Priest who sexually assaulted man after night out jailed

A priest has been jailed for sexually assaulting a drunk businessman in the house at his church.

Father Stephen Baillie abused his victim after they had been on a night out together.

Baillie, who was a priest for over 30 years, forced himself on the man at St Joseph’s Church in Clarkston, East Renfrewshire.

The 61-year-old was also previously the parish priest at St John’s Church in Barrhead and served in Paisley, Renfrewshire.

He was found guilty by a jury last month and returned to the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court to be sentenced.

Sheriff Eoin McGinty jailed him for 19 months and placed him on the Sex Offenders’ Register for ten years.

He told Baillie: “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.”

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 that references and testimonials had been provided by people off their own back.

He said that Father 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, who also served at churches in Eaglesham and Greenock, had refused to speak about the case or apologise to his victim after being convicted.

His trial heard how his victim was physically sick after the priest attempted to perform a sex act on him after a night out in June 2024.

Baillie, of Glasgow, sexually assaulted the man while he was “heavily intoxicated and unable to consent”.

They had shared a bottle of wine at Malaga Tapas in Clarkston, then headed to Maxwell’s bar before going to the Eaglesham Road Manse house to call a taxi.

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

The court heard how the man was then sexually assaulted several times.