** Jonathan Brewster was found not guilty of the charges at a subsequent trial.

The husband of a woman leading a high-profile campaign to find her missing cat has appeared in court charged with stealing it.

The search for 12-year-old ginger Marmie was featured in the Kent Messenger last month when an army of supporters, known as Marmie’s Army, rallied for a parade through Maidstone town centre in a bid to trace him.

The appeal has been backed by celebrities, with poet Pam Ayres and Made In Chelsea star Lucy Watson spreading the word on Twitter, while thousands of people have joined a Facebook group called Find Marmie.

But this week Jonathan Brewster, who has been separated from Marmie’s owner Tracy for two years, appeared before magistrates in connection with the alleged ‘catnapping’.

The 45-year-old, of Notley Road, Braintree, Essex, is charged with taking the pet from somewhere in the town between July 13 and 20. He pleaded not guilty to the theft.

Michael Michael, defending, asked the court to take the unusual step of withholding Brewster’s address due to threats made against him on social media after it became known he was appearing in court.

But chairman of the bench John Fassenfelt refused the application.

Distraught Tracy, 52, of Haydon Close, Barming, earlier told the KM she couldn’t sleep and had lost weight since Marmie was last seen.

She sobbed in the public gallery during the hearing at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Marmie, short for Marmalade, is microchipped and a reward of £1,100 is being offered for his return. But after more than 10 weeks, the beloved animal has still not been found.

Brewster will appear at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ Court early next year for the trial.