Catholic priest sexually assaulted man at his church home after night out

A Roman Catholic priest has been warned he faces jail 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, denied the single charge against him.

But he was convicted by a jury at Paisley Sheriff Court and warned he faces jail when sentenced next month. The Diocese of Paisley said Baillie has now been removed as a parish priest.

Baillie was released on bail until sentencing.

The sheriff said he was "duty bound" to obtain background reports because Baillie was a first offender and warned that the normal term for such an offence was a "pretty lengthy" term of imprisonment.

Sheriff McGinty said he would allow Baillie to put his affairs "in order" before passing sentence.

Baillie was also placed on the sex offenders' register, with the exact period he spends on it to be decided when he is sentenced.

The priest has served at churches in Eaglesham, Clarkston, Paisley 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.

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 attacked while trying to clean himself up.

A statement on behalf of the Diocese of Paisley described Baillie as "a former priest of the diocese".

It said the offence was reported directly to Police Scotland by the complainer, and the diocese was not approached prior to the police investigation.

"As the complainer was not identified as a child or vulnerable adult, the case does not fall within the church's safeguarding procedures as defined under national safeguarding policy," it said.

"The diocese nevertheless recognises that the conduct established in court represents behaviour incompatible with the standards expected of ordained ministry and commends the courage of those who came forward to report the matter and participate in what has been a long and painful process."

It said a "canonical process" was underway to decide what action to take next and Baillie had been removed from his role as a parish priest after his conviction.

"The diocese continues to work to foster a culture of care, through a shared commitment to creating and sustaining safe church environments," the statement said.