A POLICE officer who was jailed for two years for helping a drugs gang has been dismissed.

PC Gary Christie was sentenced after being convicted of passing confidential police information to convicted cocaine dealer Asa Dobbing.

During a trial at Teesside Crown Court, a jury heard Christie was lifelong friends with Dobbing.

When Jamie Malloy, one of Dobbing’s drugs couriers, was arrested, Christie searched police computers for information about Malloy after being asked to do so by Dobbing.

Christie, 42, of Silksworth Lane, Sunderland, denied misconduct in public office, and conspiracy to supply class A drugs between August 2012 and April 2014.

He was acquitted by the jury of conspiracy, but convicted of misconduct.

Christie, who had 20 years service with Northumbria Police was dismissed following a misconduct hearing at Houghton-le-Spring.

Dobbing, 37, of Ryhope Grange Court, Sunderland, who is already serving 14 years for drugs dealing, was given an extra year for aiding and abetting Christie to commit misconduct.