Sex beast Scots Priest jailed for sexually abusing man at church

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

Father Stephen Baillie, 61, abused his victim after they'd 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.

He was also previously the parish priest at St John's Church in Barrhead and served in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Eaglesham and Greenock.

He was found guilty by a jury last month and returned to the dock at Paisley Sheriff Court today, Tuesday, April 28, 2026, to be sentenced.

Sheriff Eoin McGinty jailed the first offender for 19 months and placed him on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years.

As he did so, he 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 him from approaching or contacting his victim in any way.

But 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 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”.

He placed his hands within the man’s clothing, masturbated him and removed his clothing.

He repeatedly placed the man’s penis into his mouth, watched him shower, touched his buttocks and placed his finger at the man’s anus.

They had shared a bottle of wine at Malaga Tapas in Clarkston, then headed to Maxwells 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.

He said Baillie began to perform a sex act on him while he was saying he needed to go outside to get some air.

He said he came to on the sofa and that Baillie was trying to perform oral sex on him, before being physically sick when he stood up.

He told the jury Baillie was apologising repeatedly and then stripped him off before leading him to a shower, where he squirted shower gel on him.

And he said that Baillie sexually assaulted him again by trying to perform oral sex on him for a second time.

He said Baillie also ran his hands over his back and buttocks while he was on all fours and being sick after showering.