When Cllr Hurst was sentenced in December, District Judge Richard Clancy said he had “no doubt” Cllr Hurst pushed the flier through letterboxes in Liverpool’s Woodlands Estate .

The leaflet did not include the name and address of the printer and publisher, which is against the law. Both these findings were upheld yesterday.

Mr Brown said the election in Belle Vale had been a “very close run thing” between Labour and the Lib-Dems. The “offensive and derogatory” leaflets accused Mrs Walton of leaving council meetings to learn lap dancing.

And it said Mr Walton was so unpopular at Gateacre’s Lee Park golf course, he couldn’t even find a playing partner.

In December, Cllr Hurst was fined £500 and ordered to pay £790 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. He will now also have to pay £750 appeal costs.

Cllr Hurst, a firefighter, resigned his position on Liverpool’s ruling executive board after his conviction.

Cllr Hurst and council leader Warren Bradley – who attended yesterday’s hearing – both refused to comment afterwards .

But, in a later statement, Cllr Bradley said: “Steve Hurst has taken the decision today very badly. For people who know Steve, they will vouch for his integrity.

“Steve Hurst will not be returning to his role as an executive member, and I will make a new appointment after the annual group meeting.”

Cllr Hurst said: “This whole episode has put my family and I under horrendous strain.

“We want to draw a line under the issue and try to get our lives back together.”