A disgraced former Northumbria Police inspector is fighting to clear his name.
Steve Appleton was barred from rejoining the police following a probe.
Professional Standards investigators found he had "passed on confidential police information" to a suspected thug, who was wanted by police.
The fugitive, who had been accused of assault, had been a known associate of a contact known only as Mr X.
A misconduct panel heard that over the course of several years, Appleton had sent almost 500 texts to Mr X and had met with him on multiple occasions.
Last March, that panel ruled Appleton's actions constituted gross misconduct and he was placed on the police barred list.
Appleton, who covered South Tyneside during decades of service with the force, is now appealing the ruling.
The appeal is scheduled to be heard in private at a one-day hearing on Monday, January 18.
It will be held remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
