Essex councillor resigns after arrest over indecent images By Simon Dedman

Political reporter, BBC Essex Published duration 20 August 2015

A councillor has resigned and been suspended by the Labour Party after being arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children.

Terry Brookes, who was a member of Thurrock Council in Essex, was arrested last month.

Mr Brookes said he had resigned to "prove my innocence and protect the Labour Party".

Essex Police said a 58-year-old man from Grays had been arrested on 20 July and released on bail until December.

Mr Brookes said he stood down earlier this month because he "didn't want to drag anyone else into it".

'House searched'

He said he had not been charged, but confirmed to BBC Essex he had been arrested and said the police "carried out a full search of my house".

In July, Mr Brookes was sacked publicly as the cabinet member for public protection by Thurrock Council Leader John Kent after he failed to attend two meetings where he was required to answer questions related to his portfolio.

His home in Grays, which is owned by his wife, is up for sale.

A by-election is taking place for his ward of West Thurrock and South Stifford on 10 September.

Mr Brookes won it in a by-election with 58% of the vote in October 2014.