A prominent Clacton councillor has said he is “co-operating fully” with police after being arrested in connection with an alleged conspiracy to defraud a national sporting charity.

Pierre Oxley, 40, of Ladbrooke Road, Clacton, was taken into custody last week by detectives as part of an ongoing investigation involving alleged fraud against Sport England.

Mr Oxley, who represents the Tendring First party for the St Paul’s Ward on Tendring District Council as well as Clacton East on Essex County Council, was arrested last week by detectives, along with a 53-year-old man.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: “On Tuesday July 22 police arrested two men from Clacton on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud.

“The men – aged 40 and 53 – have been taken to a police station for questioning by detectives.

“The arrests are connected to an ongoing investigation in relation to allegations of fraud against the charity Sport England.

“The 40-year-old man has been bailed until October 14 and the 53-year-old to September 16.”

Mr Oxley works as a manager at a shop in Southend and sits on the Essex Fire Authority.

He has been involved in community sports for many years and has been a trustee of Clacton Sports Club and held the post of chairman at Clacton Cricket Club.

Mr Oxley first became a Conservative member of TDC in 1999 and was re-elected for Tendring First in 2011.

He was elected to ECC in 2005, initially as a Conservative but lost his seat in 2009. He was re-elected as a Tendring First representative last year.

Speaking to the EADT, he said: “I am actively supporting and helping the police with their ongoing investigations and I am co-operating fully with them and have done since (my arrest).

“I will remain 100% willing to co-operate with them at all times.”

He confirmed that he was no longer involved with any sporting organisations, including the sports club.

Last night a spokesman for TDC said that Mr Oxley had informed the authority of an ongoing police investigation into a private matter.

“At this stage we do not believe that it involves the council or his role as a councillor and as such is for the police to investigate,” he said.

“It would not be appropriate for us to make any further comment at this time.”

An ECC spokesman said: “We are aware of the situation but cannot comment further due to the ongoing investigation.”

Sport England provides funding and services to clubs and projects across the country.

A spokesman for the charity said: “We notified the police about the incident, and have been assisting them with their inquiries.

“We can’t make any further comment while the investigation is ongoing.”