Christine Hemming charged with burgling the home of her Lib Dem husband's lover

This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

An MP's wife appeared before magistrates today charged with burgling the house of her husband's lover and stealing a tabby kitten worth £20.

Christine Margaret Hemming, wife of the Liberal Democrat MP for Birmingham Yardley, John Hemming, was not required to enter a plea during a brief appearance at the city's magistrates court.

Beauty the cat. Photograph: johnhemming. blogspot.com/PA

Hemming, of Moseley, Birmingham, is alleged to have burgled the home of Emily Cox on the night of 29 September. The MP fathered a child with Cox, a researcher, in 2005.

Magistrates granted Hemming, 52, conditional bail until a committal hearing for crown court trial on 16 December.

The MP, elected in 2005, was unavailable for comment.

The fate of the cat was not made clear in court, but a picture of the animal, apparently called Beauty, was posted on the MP's blog under the heading "kitten missing" at 8.07am today. The photograph was accompanied by a message which read: "If anyone has seen this kitten please contact me at the House of Commons. There is a reward for its return."