Guilty: MP's Wife Stole Love Rival's Kitten

An MP's wife has been found guilty of burglary after being caught on CCTV stealing a kitten from the home of her husband's lover.

Jurors took just over five hours to convict Christine Hemming, 53, who snatched the cat three days after separating from Liberal Democrat John Hemming.

Mrs Hemming, who showed no reaction as the verdict was returned at Birmingham Crown Court, will be sentenced next month.

She was bailed to appear at the same court on October 28.

She was seen crawling on all fours in the garden on September 29 last year before entering the house.

Three minutes later she emerged with four-month-old Beauty under her arm. The cat has not been seen since.

She took it from the home of her husband's mistress Emily Cox. The property was bought for Ms Cox by the MP.

The court heard that Mr Hemming, his lover and his wife were involved in an "unconventional love triangle".

"It was a love triangle that both women were fully aware of," Jason Pegg, for the prosecution, said.

Despite Mrs Hemming accepting or tolerating the situation, her marriage was said to have been under strain by September last year.

She told the jury that she went to the mistress' house to deliver her husband's post.

Although she earlier said in a police statement that she went looking for letters which would help with divorce proceedings.

Gerald Bermingham, defending, said: "The cat cuddled up to her and she picked it up when her mind was miles away and took it home with her."

"If you are distressed and upset do you normally think straight?" he asked.

He added: "Physically she went in. Physically she picked up the cat. She didn't intend to burgle. She didn't intend to steal."

Mr and Mrs Hemming had an agreement that he could see other women. He had three children with his wife and one with his mistress.

At the time of the incident, Mrs Hemming said she thought her husband owned the property in which Ms Cox was living.

The whereabouts of Beauty the kitten remains a mystery. Mrs Hemming said she put it in her neighbour's garden.

It came back into her garden, she fed it and then took it close to Ms Cox's house, hoping it would go home, she said, adding she had no interest in stealing the cat.

"I am not a vindictive person. The cat didn't struggle when I picked it up. I remember the warmth. I don't remember much more about that," she told the court.