A former prison officer and union activist starved and neglected an elderly dog to the brink of death.Craig Clarke — who resigned from his job and as chairman of the Prison Officers Association — escaped being fined or jailed over the cruelty to Sapphire the Rottweiler, who had to be put to sleep.Mr Clarke, 44, admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to the dog when he appeared at Magistrates’ Court today.Prosecutor Susan Mulligan told the court that SPCA Inspector Glyn Roberts visited Mr Clarke’s home in North Shore Road, Pembroke, on May 5 as a result of a complaint from a member of the public that there was an emaciated dog there.Armed with a search warrant, the Inspector entered the backyard and found Sapphire, who was emaciated to the point her bones were showing, and was riddled with fleas, worms and tumours.Ms Mulligan told the court the dog who was an estimated 12 or 13 years old was so sick, she did not get up when the inspector and police officers approached. She said the dog had not been fed and was starving.The dog was taken to a vet and responded well when given food and treatment, but later had to be put to sleep due to her tumours and advanced age.Mr Clarke told the court the dog was dying anyway.“I told the inspector the reason I did not put the dog down was my children. They loved the dog and fed the dog. The dog had water and two kennels,” he said.“I fed the dog every day. The dog was dying. It made no sense to take the dog to a vet.”He added: “I have given up my job. I am no longer in charge of the Prison Officers Association over this matter and another matter.”He is facing separate charges of threatening a police officer over Cup Match, which he denies, and is due to stand trial in October.Mr Warner handed him a conditional discharge for the cruelty to Sapphire, on the condition that he does not own another dog for 12 months.