Sunshine on Leith actor guilty of sexually assaulting actress

Kevin Guthrie faces jail after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a vulnerable woman in Glasgow.

Sunshine on Leith actor  guilty of sexually assaulting actress Getty Images

Scottish actor Kevin Guthrie has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a vulnerable actress.

The Sunshine on Leith star, 33, took advantage of the 29-year-old woman who had appeared unwell after a night out. 

The incident occurred at the flat of fellow actor Scott Reid – Methadone Mick in BBC’s Still Game.

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

He wept and said “why?” as the verdict was delivered at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Friday.

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

Sheriff Tom Hughes told him: “You took advantage of this woman while she was in a vulnerable position.

“The jury say you were found in a position of trust while you were supposed to be looking after her.

“Your position stands in direct contrast to the one of your friend Scott Reid whose actions were highly commendable.

“He rushed to her aid when something happened outside his home and he cared for her.

“He was constantly trying to get help through NHS 24 and did absolutely anything to help her.

“This must carry a custodial sentence for this serious matter you have been found guilty of.”

Guthrie, of the city’s Yorkhill, was put on the sex offenders’ list.

He was bailed pending sentencing next month.

The attack occurred between September 30 and October 1, 2017.

The woman had been due to meet Guthrie and Scott at a bar on the night of the alleged attack.

Scott 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 and put her on a bed.

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

The woman recalled Scott not being in the room and bed covers then “being moved down my body”.

She went on: “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.

Guthrie – who also starred in the Fantastic Beasts film and Netflix series The English Game – carried out a further two sexual acts and kissed her on the mouth. He would stop when Scott would come into the room.

She added: “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.”

Sentence was deferred until next month for background reports.

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