NEILSTON actor Kevin Guthrie is to appeal against his conviction for sexually assaulting a vulnerable woman.

The Sunshine on Leith star was jailed earlier this month after being found guilty of taking advantage of his 29-year-old victim.

Guthrie, a former pupil at St Luke’s High, in Barrhead, has now launched a bid for freedom after instructing his legal team to challenge both his conviction and three-year sentence.

Court officials confirmed an “intimation of intention to appeal” was lodged last week and a hearing will take place at a later date.

Guthrie, 33, did not request to be released on bail pending his appeal and remains in custody.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard the attack took place at the flat of fellow actor Scott Reid, who played Methadone Mick in BBC TV’s hit comedy Still Game, between September 30 and October 1, 2017.

Guthrie insisted he had only “helped” the woman that night – but his DNA was found on her underwear.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Tom Hughes told him: “You had an educational background and worked extremely hard to get a part in acting in acclaimed films.

“The court must show that women can be protected from domestic sexual offences.”

Guthrie had denied a sexual assault charge during a four-day trial.

The woman had been due to meet Guthrie and Mr Reid at a bar on the night of September 30.

However, Mr Reid received a call from a taxi driver to collect her, as she appeared ill.

He and Guthrie helped the woman into the flat in Glasgow’s Kelvindale area and put her on a bed.

Mr Reid called NHS 24, leaving Guthrie in the room “to make sure she was okay.”

But the woman recalled that, when Mr Reid wasn’t in the room, the bed covers were moved.

She told the court: “I remember my top being lifted up and my bra being held down.”

The trial heard the woman was groped by Guthrie before he performed a sex act on her.

She added: “There would be times when Scott would come back in the room and he would pull the covers back on top of me and pull my top down.”

Guthrie, who also starred in Sunset Song, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Legend of Barney Thomson and Netflix series The English Game, carried out a further two sexual acts and kissed her on the mouth, the court heard.

Guthrie refuted the accusations, agreeing with his QC Gordon Jackson that it had instead been a “panic situation” due to the woman’s condition.

However, his DNA was found on the inside of the woman’s underpants.

Mr Findlay asked Guthrie to explain why this was.

He said: “I can’t for the life of me explain in any rational sense how that happened.”

As well as his jail sentence, Guthrie was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for an indefinite period.

He was told he had committed the crime while he was in “a position of trust.”