Catholic priest jailed for sexually assaulting man at his church home

A Roman Catholic priest has been jailed for 19 months after being convicted of sexually assaulting a man in the house at his church.

Father Stephen Baillie, who was the parish priest at St Joseph's Church in Clarkston, East Renfrewshire, abused his victim after they had been on a night out together.

Baillie, who has been a priest for 36 years, had denied the charge but was convicted by a jury at Paisley Sheriff Court last month.

The Diocese of Paisley previously said Baillie, who was also put on the sex offenders register for 10 years, had been removed as a parish priest.

The 61-year-old had served at churches in Eaglesham, Clarkston, Paisley, Barrhead and Greenock.

The trial heard his victim was physically sick after Baillie attempted to perform a sex act on him after a night out in June 2024.

The court heard how Baillie assaulted the man while he was "heavily intoxicated and unable to consent".

The attack happened after they shared a bottle of wine over dinner at a restaurant in Clarkston and drank at a bar before going to Baillie's home on Eaglesham Road.

The man told the jury that he had agreed to go to the house to call a taxi and Baillie had offered him more alcohol.

He said Baillie performed a number of sex acts on him while at the house - including when he said he needed to leave to get some air.

At one point the victim vomited and was assaulted again while trying to clean himself up.

Addressing Baillie, Sheriff Eoin McGinty said: "What is clear from the many letters of support and testimonials I have received is that you have helped many people in the past, and I have no doubt that, in some way, you will continue to do so in the future.

"But the fact is your victim was sexually assaulted in a number of ways over a period of time.

"We heard from his long-term partner about the effect and consequences that your attack has had upon him.

"I have concluded that the only appropriate sentence is one of imprisonment."

Prosecutors also wanted to have a Non-Harassment Order imposed, banning Baillie from approaching or contacting his victim in any way.

However, Sheriff McGinty said he did not feel the measure was necessary as he had not been told about any contact or attempted contact since the date of the offence in June 2024.

Father Baillie's lawyer had asked for him to be spared prison and sentenced to a Community Payback Order.

He highlighted the good work that the former priest had done over the years and said references and testimonials had been provided by people without being asked for them.

He said Baillie had helped generations of people after becoming a priest in 1990 and that he had spent his life "dealing with the sick, dealing with the grieving, dealing with death, funerals, and being a chaplain at hospitals."

The priest had refused to speak about the case or apologise to his victim after being convicted.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Paisley said: "As the offence was reported directly to Police Scotland in November 2024, the diocese was not involved in the police investigation or the subsequent court proceedings.

"The diocese recognised the courage of those who came forward to report this matter and hopes that the sentence imposed will provide some assurance that their voice was heard."

The spokesperson added that the diocese renewed its pledge of compassion and support to anyone who had been harmed in a Church context and its "commitment to accompany them on their path to healing".

They added that a "canonical process" was under way to decide what action to take next and confirmed that Baillie had not exercised public ministry since he was arrested in November 2024.