Stephen Baillie 61

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East Renfrewshire priest found guilty of sexually assaulting man

An East Renfrewshire priest has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a man.

Canon Stephen Baillie, 61, of Saracen Street, Glasgow, was convicted at Paisley Sheriff Court of assaulting the man at St Joseph’s Church in Clarkston between June 27 and 28, 2024. The jury heard the victim was “heavily intoxicated and unable to consent” when Baillie placed his hands inside the man’s clothing and masturbated him, removed his clothing, repeatedly performed oral sex on him, watched him shower, touched his buttocks and placed a finger at his anus.

The victim told the jury the pair had been out for a “business dinner,” sharing two bottles of wine at Malaga Tapas in Clarkston before heading to Maxwells Bar and then the manse on Eaglesham Road to call a taxi.

“I agreed to go across to the manse to call a taxi,” he said. “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 described how Baillie stood “squirting shower gel on him” before drying him and assaulting him again. “He was very insistent on drying me, he knocked his head against my genitals and attempted oral sex again,” he told the jury. “He ran his hands a few times over my buttocks and placed his finger on my anus… I was feeling broken, feeling a lack of energy.”

The victim’s partner told the jury the couple have been attending therapy as a result of the “traumatising” incident, which has also caused intimacy issues between them.

Baillie, a priest for 36 years who served churches in Greenock, Paisley, Clarkston and Eaglesham, denied the charge. He has no previous convictions.

Defence agent Brian Fitzpatrick asked for background reports and continued bail. Sheriff Eoin McGinty adjourned sentencing for reports and allowed bail to continue to “allow him to put his affairs in order.”

Baillie was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and will return to court for sentencing next month. He has been removed from his role as Parish Priest.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Paisley said:

“The Diocese of Paisley notes the conviction of Canon Stephen Baillie, a former priest of the Diocese, for the sexual assault of an adult man.

“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. 

“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.

“A canonical process, which was previously initiated pending the court’s decision, will now resume so the diocese can consider what action to take. Following his conviction, he has been removed from his role as Parish Priest.

“The diocese continues to work to foster a culture of care, through a shared commitment to creating and sustaining safe church environments. We also renew our pledge to offer shelter, support, and compassion to anyone harmed by the Church and to walk with them on the path to healing.”