Stephen Baillie was found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting a male at St Joseph’s Church in Clarkston between June 27, 2024 and June 28, 2024, following a trial at Paisley Sheriff Court.
Baillie, of Saracen Street, Glasgow, sexually assaulted the man while he was “heavily intoxicated and unable to consent” by placing his hands within the man’s clothing, masturbating him, removing his clothing, and repeatedly placing the man’s penis into his mouth, watching him shower, touching his buttocks and placing his finger at the man’s anus.
Today, Sheriff Eoin McGinty caged the beast for 19 months, stating: “I’ve concluded the only sentence is one of imprisonment.”
The Diocese of Paisley previously said Baillie, who was also today put on the sex offender’s register for 10 years, had been removed as a parish priest.
Giving evidence during the trial at Paisley Sheriff Court, the male told how Baillie sexually assaulted him after they’d been out for a “business dinner”.
The male said they shared two bottles of wine at Malaga Tapas in Clarkston before heading to Maxwell’s Bar then to the Manse house on Eaglesham Road to call for a taxi, but he was sexually assaulted before a taxi was called for.
The man told the jury: “I agreed to go across to the manse to call a taxi.
“Stephen turned to open a bottle of port which I declined and asked for water, which he got from the fridge.
“The way I was feeling started to physically change. My temperature went through the roof, I couldn’t regulate my temperature at all.
“I said I needed air and he took me out the back door.
“He put his hand down the front of my trousers and tried to masturbate me.
“I recall coming to on a sofa and he was attempting to perform oral sex on me.
“I stood up, I felt physically sick. I was then sick while standing up, he kept saying, ‘I’m so sorry.’
“He stripped me down and led me to a shower.”
The man explained how Baillie was “standing on the other side” of the shower “squirting shower gel on him” before helping him get dried. At this point the male said Baillie sexually assaulted him again.
He told the jury: “He was very insistent on drying me, he knocked his head against my genitals and attempted oral sex again.
“I was sick for a second time.
“He ran his hands a few times over my buttocks and placed his finger on my anus.
“He caressed my back while I was on all fours next to the toilet. I was sick a few times after showering.
“He ran his hands a few times over my buttocks while I was being sick.
“I was feeling broken, feeling a lack of energy.”
The victim’s partner also gave evidence during the trial, she told the jury how the couple have been attending therapy as a result of the “traumatising” incident.
She also explained how the incident has caused intimacy issues between the pair.
Baillie denied the charge against him.
He had been a priest for 36 years, covering churches in Greenock, Paisley, Clarkston and Eaglesham.
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Paisley said: “Canon Stephen Baillie, a priest of the Diocese of Paisley, was convicted in March 2026 of the sexual assault of an adult man and was sentenced to 19 months imprisonment in April 2026.
“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 recognises 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 diocese renews its pledge of compassion and support to anyone who has been harmed in a church context and its commitment to accompany them on their path to healing.
“As the conduct established in court is incompatible with the standards expected of ordained ministry, a canonical process is now underway to determine future church action. Canon Stephen Baillie has not exercised public ministry since November 2024, when he was arrested in relation to this matter.”
