NEILSTON actor Kevin Guthrie has been jailed for three years after sexually assaulting a vulnerable actress.

The Sunshine on Leith star took advantage of his 29-year-old victim after she became ill during a night out.

The incident took place at the flat of fellow actor Scott Reid, who played Methadone Mick in BBC TV's hit comedy Still Game.

Guthrie, a former pupil at St Luke’s High, in Barrhead, insisted he had only "helped" the woman that night – but his DNA was found on the inside of her underwear.

He appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court today for sentencing, backed by a crowd of supporters.

Guthrie, 33, showed no emotion as he was locked up and put on the Sex Offenders Register for an indefinite period.

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 and those who do should suffer serious consequences.

"The offence you have been convicted of caused distress and consequences to the young woman involved in this case."

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

The attack took place between September 30 and October 1, 2017.

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 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.

He would stop when Mr Reid went back into the room.

His victim said: “I was unsure about what was happening, I could not believe it was happening.”

Prosecutor Harry Findlay asked why she did not say anything.

She replied: “I couldn’t. I found it difficult to communicate in any way.

“I think I was frozen as well.”

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."

Mr Jackson told the sentencing hearing that Guthrie maintains his innocence.

The lawyer added: "If ever there was a case where something appears out of character, it is this.

"This was a man who knows success, things can go to your head, but he has been a decent, composed individual.

"He wasn't a jobbing actor, he was doing well. No disrespect but, no matter what you do to him, this will have an effect on his future and career."

Guthrie was told he had committed the crime while he was in "a position of trust."

Sheriff Hughes added: "The jury accepted that you committed these heinous crimes and the only appropriate sentence is imprisonment."