A porn novelist and upstanding member of the community who was found guilty of sexual assault in July has appealed against his conviction. 

Councillor David Burcombe was convicted of one count of sexual assault that happened in September, 2015.

READ MORE: Hertsmere Borough Councillor found guilty of sexual assault.

The 74-year-old was elected to represent the Cowley Hill Ward, in Borehamwood, on Hertsmere Borough Council in the last election in 2015.

Burcombe, who was the co-founder of Tried and Trusted, a newspaper in Borehamwood, walked up behind the woman at a gathering which was in a church and placed his hand on her bottom and stroked it.

When she turned around he smiled at her making her feel uncomfortable, the court heard in August.

Burcombe also wrote and published two adult fantasy sex novels under the pen name David Johns-Burcombe. His 2010 debut, Merger, which he dedicated to his late mother, is set in the suburbs of North London and South Hertfordshire.

A preview of the book on Amazon, where it can be downloaded, reveals chapter titles including 'She became aware of his groin pushed against hers' and 'Shirley screamed in horror as she observed the size of it'.

His second novel, Newshawk, is billed as a fantasy adult novel based on 'actual events'.

Burcombe has now appealed to St Albans Crown Court against the conviction. He was given a three month prison sentence suspended for 18 months.

On August 5, the judge ruled Burcombe will undertake a rehabilitation activity requirement as recommended by the Probation Service.

Legally Hertsmere Borough Council had to allow Burcombe to lodge an appeal within 28 days of sentencing.

If Burcombe's appeal is accepted by the court the outcome will determine whether he remains a representative of the council.