A priest has been jailed after sexually assaulting a drunken businessman at his church house following a night out together.
Canon Stephen Baillie, who was a priest for more than 30 years, forced himself on the man at the chapel house at St Joseph’s Church in Clarkston, Renfrewshire.
The 61-year-old first offender was found guilty last month at Paisley Sheriff Court. The trial heard how his victim was physically sick after the priest tried to perform a sex act on him after a night out in June 2024.
Canon Baillie pounced while his victim was ‘intoxicated and unable to consent’. The man told the jury he had agreed to go to the house for a taxi to be called after a night out and that Baillie had offered him more alcohol before the attack.
A lawyer for Canon Baillie, who had previously been a parish priest at St John’s Church in Barrhead, Renfrewshire, highlighted the good work he had done over the years and asked for him to be spared prison.
But Sheriff Eoin McGinty jailed him for 19 months and placed him on the sex offenders register for ten years.
Canon Stephen Baillie, who was a priest for more than 30 years, forced himself on the man at the chapel house at St Joseph’s Church
The judge said: ‘What is clear from the many letters of support I have received is that you have helped many people.
‘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 your attack has had upon him.
‘The only appropriate sentence is one of imprisonment.’
A spokesman for the Diocese of Paisley said: ‘Canon Baillie has not exercised ministry since November 2024, when he was arrested over this matter.’