Andrew Cusick was originally found guilty of gross misconduct and dismissed by Strathclyde police but an employment tribunal subsequently ruled that unfair and awarded compensation of £26,649.

However, last year an employment appeal tribunal reversed the decision and held that the dismissal was fair.

But an appeal to three judges at the Court of Session in Edinburgh has now resulted in the law suit being sent back to a new employment tribunal for a hearing of the whole case.

Lord Clarke said: "It appears to have been a matter of agreement before the employment tribunal and the employment appeal tribunal that the appellant received information about his brother's whereabouts which he withheld from the police, despite specific inquiries being made of him regarding his brother's whereabouts."