A police officer sent pals a WhatsApp clip of him taking a suspect to the ground - before laughing as one mate claimed the prisoner "looked a complete p***k".
But PC James Younas WON'T be sacked, despite the data breach which investigators claimed was simply for his "own entertainment".
The 29-year-old recorded CCTV - which he was prohibited from doing - which showed him arresting the man before sending it to multiple friends.
But a panel chose not to sack him.
This is the latest in a string of misconduct hearings for Northumbria Police.
Last month, Sgt Claire Hunter avoided the axe despite calling a suspect who died on her watch a "nasty smelly drunk".
Recently PC Katie Barratt won back her job - and £15,000 - despite branding takeaway staff "p***s".
She was initially dismissed at a misconduct hearing but she appealed the decision and was reinstated by an independent appeal.
Northumbria Police is now appealing that decision.
In PC Younas' case, he used his personal iPhone 7 to film CCTV footage of him making the arrest, maintaining he needed the clip to help him write an incident report.
But over ten days he sent it it to four people - including colleagues - as well as Neil McNally, a member of the public and personal friend.
After saying "don't show anyone ha" to his mate, McNally replied: "I won't - brought him down well there ha!
"He looked a complete p***k."
Younas, who initially denied ever sending the footage, replied: "Hahaha - he was."
The footage, which clearly showed the suspect's face, was played at Younas' misconduct hearing in May, where he apoligised.
But Steven Reed slammed the officer's laughed reply - and claims he was simply trying to show an "unusual" incident at work.
"It shows you are proud of what you are doing, that you are boasting," said the barrister.
"You see this as a joke."
PC Younas, who denied gross misconduct, claimed he'd sent the footage to Mr McNally as he had shown an interest in becoming an officer.
But that excuse wasn't accepted by investigators, with Mr Reed firing back: "Your messages don't show any recruitment process - instead you are showing off to a friend.
"You enjoy the attention given to you by Mr McNally."
He later added: "You knew what you were doing was wrong."
The saga unfolded back in 2017 at Wallsend's Middle Engine Lane custody suite.
Last year, the Crown Prosecution Service ruled that while there had been a data breach it was "not in the public interest" to prosecute PC Younas, who told the panel: [Becoming a police officer] always something I've wanted to do since I was a young child."
But his boyhood dream could turn into a potential nightmare for the force.
Previously, ChronicleLive revealed the force faced a string of possible payout relating to WhatsApp data breaches at both Middle Engine and Forth Banks.
One employee - Alexander Earl - was prosecuted. Another, who used "excess force", was sacked.
However, PC Younas is free to resume his decade-long career with the force - which started as a special when he was a student - after the misconduct panel handed him a final written warning for sharing the clip.
Other allegations against him were not proven. They included a claim that he photographed a 'Force Wide Incident Number' on his personal number.
He claimed that may have been taken by "accident".
Supt Sav Patsalos, head of Professional Standards at Northumbria Police, said: “We expect officers and staff to maintain the highest standards at all times and if anyone is found to have fallen below these we are committed to taking appropriate action.
“The panel of an independently-chaired misconduct hearing has concluded an officer breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour and that it amounted to gross misconduct. The panel determined he should receive a final written warning.
“I would like to reassure the public that we have taken positive measures to reinforce the responsibilities of all officers and staff around confidentiality.”
