A CRICKET club official says the last six months of his life have been a nightmare after he found himself at the centre of a fraud probe.

Clacton Cricket Club vice chairman Gary Kirk, 54, was arrested last July on suspicion of misappropriating funds from Sport England.

He was eventually told he would not face any charges in February.

Speaking on the eve of the new season, Mr Kirk said: “The last six months have been horrendous, both for me and my family.”

The allegations were over how a Sport England grant for Clacton Sports Club, in Vista Road, was spent.

Mr Kirk always protested his innocence and said the allegations were nothing to do with Clacton Cricket Club.

He is bitter that he was under suspicion for so long.

“My name and that of my family has been dragged through the gutter and it’s threatened both my home and work life," he said.

“My family have been an incredible support to me and I’m not sure where I would be without them.”