WARREN Rose must wait three weeks to find out his punishment for keeping his German Shepherd dog in a pitiful state.Magistrates had convicted Rose of causing unnecessary suffering to the five-year-old pet, Sasha, at an earlier hearing.

WARREN Rose must wait three weeks to find out his punishment for keeping his German Shepherd dog in a pitiful state.

Magistrates had convicted Rose of causing unnecessary suffering to the five-year-old pet, Sasha, at an earlier hearing.

Rose, 35, failed to turn up to court for the trial in December last year but the law finally caught up with him.

He was brought before South East Suffolk Magistrates on Friday and is due to be sentenced later this month.

Sasha was found at an Ipswich address in "an extremely poor condition and extremely underweight," said Hugh Rowland, prosecuting on behalf of the RSPCA.

"The skin on her back was red and inflamed," said Mr Rowland. "Her ribs and pelvic bones were prominent." Terrified Sasha cowered away when she was approached.

"She behaved as if she was very frightened," the court heard and "was terrified of being touched." Sasha had dropped a third of her normal weight

Efforts were made to trace Rose who was found at an address at St Francis Court, Ipswich. He was interviewed by police.

Two months on and with proper care Sasha gained weight and was described as "less timid and more tolerant."

Charles Riddleston, mitigating, said Rose had denied the charge and still maintains his not guilty plea.

Bench chairwoman Fenella Blastland ordered reports before sentencing with all options open.

Rose, of Chapel Street North, Colchester, was granted conditional bail to return to South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court in Ipswich on July 25.