A policeman caught tipping off a drug dealing friend faces a stiff sentence after his case was sent to Scotland's highest court today.

William Hosie, an officer with Tayside Police, admitted passing confidential information to a drug pusher.

The 28-year-old from Dundee was caught after a raid on childhood friend Raymond Rudkin's home in May 2007.

Colleagues had become suspicious of his relationship with the suspected criminal and bugged a police car.

Hosie - nicknamed Don Beech by the dealer after a crooked policeman on TV show The Bill - was heard giving him advice and details of the police's position.

A Dundee sheriff said today that he did not have sufficient powers to deal with the seriousness of the offence.

Sheriff Thomas Hughes said: "The public looks to the services of law and order to protect them.

"You have failed to protect the public."

He went on: "You have also betrayed your brother officers. You know what a difficult job it is they undertake on a daily basis.

"They must have 100% confidence and trust in their brother officers. You betrayed that trust."

The sheriff ruled: "I take the view that the powers of sentencing available to me would not be appropriate.

"I am going to remit your sentence to the High Court of Justiciary."

Hosie is due to be sentenced for giving confidential information to a dealer, for neglect of duty by failing to pass details to the force, and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Married Hosie joined Tayside Police in 1999 and in March 2007 became involved in drugs operations with the force.

Police soon became suspicious of his relationship with suspected local dealer Rudkin.

The pair had both grown up together on a housing estate in the Mid Craigie area of Dundee.

Police checked telephone records and realised that the men had been in contact.

It emerged that Rudkin's codename for Hosie on his mobile phone was the crooked character from The Bill.

In the bugged car, Hosie was recorded giving the suspect advice on the police investigation.

The former school captain and member of the Boys Brigade has been in custody since admitting the crimes on April 14.

His defence lawyer today asked that he be spared jail, adding that there would be "no greater punishment" than carrying out community service as a "fallen hero".

Tim Niven-Smith said: "He now bears what he describes as the mark of Cain upon him.

"He is shunned by the police, he is shunned by friends.

"He has received death threats and he appreciates that he has caused untold suffering to his family and his wife who he loves dearly.

"Most importantly he has lost his dignity. His self esteem, his standing, his respectability in the community is lost."

Mr Niven-Smith said that in Perth jail Hosie, as a previously serving police officer, was "worse than those who commit offences against little children".

"He requires to be in segregation 24 hours a day," he added.

Discussing the possibility of community service, the lawyer said: "There would be no greater punishment that having to attend places a fallen hero.

"He will attend with the mark of Cain upon him, knowing that people are sneering at him and talking about him behind his back."

Mr Niven-Smith also told the court that Hosie blamed himself for the loss of his and his wife's premature child after four days in October last year.

His mother also suffered a stroke.

"William Hosie is a broken man. He heard, before being remanded, his wife crying herself to sleep every night," he said.

Hosie denied being involved in the supply of cocaine, which was accepted by prosecutors.

Rudkin has been jailed for the offence.

Sheriff Hughes rejected defence claims that no one had escaped justice as the result of Hosie's actions and that no undercover officers or sources had been put at risk.

He paid tribute to Tayside Police for thwarting Hosie's actions.

He said: "It is to their great credit that they did not flinch in their investigation.

"They did not flinch in removing the bad apple they found in their barrel."