The official investigation launched after Halesowen Councillor Ken Turner sent a racist joke by email to colleagues cost the taxpayer £3,767.38.

Dudley Council instigated the investigation after Cradley and Wollescote Councillor Tim Crumpton made an official complaint concerning the joke, which poked fun at immigrants.

The council’s solicitor Helen Kidd was instructed to investigate the complaint and compile a report spending 48 hours completing her task.

Philip Tart, director of corporate resources at Dudley Council, said: "The complaint was dealt with in accordance with our statutory responsibilities and guidance issued by the Standards Board for England."

Hayley Green and Cradley South Councillor Ken Turner, who blasted the investigation a waste of money and believes the money would have been better spent on services, is still bitter about the investigation.

He said this week: “I find it very disturbing that Councillor Tim Crumpton reported me about the joke I sent, especially as I have been told by members of his group that the same joke was distributed around other councillors earlier last year.”

Cllr Tim Crumpton is unrepentant about triggering the investigation with a formal complaint.

He said: “I don’t think you can put a price on democracy and the simple fact is that if Cllr Turner is complaining about the investigation and the cost then he should have not sent his disgusting email in the first place because if he hadn’t there would have been no need for an investigation.

“His attitude just shows that he has learnt nothing from the whole incident.”