SENIOR city councillor Paul Shotton is back in court trying to clear his name as he attempts to overturn his animal cruelty conviction.

The 47-year-old and his 45-year-old wife, Annette, have already been convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to their pet Labrador Baron between June 24 and July 15, 2006.

The former deputy elected mayor, pictured, quit his £7,000-a-year role on Stoke-on-Trent City Council's cabinet after the couple were found guilty and given two-year conditional discharges.

But Mr Shotton held onto his Fenton seat and is appearing before Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court this week to try to overturn their conviction and sentence.

The RSPCA alleges the Shottons, from Smithpool Road, Fenton, did not take any steps to get treatment for 16-year-old Baron and then went on holiday leaving him with Mr Shotton's son Gavin.

The court heard RSPCA inspector Julie Lyons went to the house a day later following a tip-off from a neighbour and found Baron lying down.

Rowan Jenkins, for the RSPCA, said: "There was a bowl of stale food and she did not see any water.

"She tried to help the dog stand but he soon fell over. She noticed the whole of the flank side of the dog was soaking in urine and he had a sore on his mouth and a large sore on his elbow."

The court heard Baron was taken to Willow Veterinary Surgery, in Endon, but he could not stand, was disorientated, distressed and dehydrated.

Baron was put down three days later on the vet's advice.

Mr Jenkins said: "We say a reasonable carer would have noticed what the problems were and done something about it, instead of going on holiday."

Insp Lyons told the court: "There was a real, real strong smell of urine. I managed to get him up. He tottered for a few steps and then fell over again."

Insp Lyons hit back at claims that Mr Shotton was being prosecuted because he is a city councillor.

"I have no hidden agenda," she said.

"There was an old dog, wobbly on his legs, stinking of urine and he had sores."

Vet Clive Curry told the court: "He was old, thin and very distressed. He also had arthritis and possibly spinal problems."

Gavin Shotton, who lived in nearby Alma Street, had earlier been cleared by magistrates of the same charge.

The appeal continues.