In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Stephen Baillie, 61, a prominent Catholic priest, was convicted of the sexual assault of a 35-year-old businessman. On appearing at Paisley Sheriff Court, the defendant—formerly the parish priest at St Joseph’s Church in Clarkston—was found guilty of targeting the man following a business dinner in June 2024. It was reported that Baillie used his position to lure the victim back to his church manse for a “night cap” before stripping him naked and performing sexual acts while the man was too intoxicated to consent.
The investigation established the calculated nature of the assault. Police Scotland reported that the incident occurred on 27 June 2024, after the pair met to discuss investments. The prosecution reported that after consuming significant amounts of wine, brandy, and port at a tapas restaurant and a bar, Baillie twice suggested they return to his residence. Once inside the manse, Baillie pinned the man against a sink and later assaulted him while he was passed out on a sofa.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Baillie attempted to conceal his actions by “washing and ironing” the victim’s clothes and delivering them the next day along with a box of After Eight chocolates. Paisley Sheriff Court heard that when the victim’s girlfriend arrived at the manse at 12:30am, she found her partner in shock, wearing boxer shorts that did not belong to him. The investigation established that the victim had been forced into a shower by Baillie, an act the prosecution argued was a deliberate attempt to destroy forensic evidence, as the victim later told his partner, “There’s no point [calling the police], he made me wash.”
Sheriff Hugh McGinty noted that the jury entirely rejected Baillie’s “astonishing” claims that the victim had initiated a kiss or that he was simply “helping” a sick man into the shower. For his actions in Clarkston and Glasgow, Baillie was warned he faces a lengthy prison sentence. The judge noted that the breach of trust by a man who had served as a priest for 36 years across Greenock, Eaglesham, and Paisley was a grave factor in the conviction.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in Scotland, the status of Stephen Baillie is as follows:
- Current Status: Convicted; awaiting sentencing (2026).
- Anticipated Sentence: Lengthy custodial term.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements will be active upon sentencing.
- Judicial Oversight: Convicted at Paisley Sheriff Court following a Police Scotland investigation.
- Criminal Record: Sexual assault (by penetration and indecent acts).
- Origin: Saracen Street, Glasgow (formerly Clarkston, East Renfrewshire).
Monitoring and Public Protection
Baillie will be managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) following his sentencing and eventual release. Due to the nature of his conduct in Clarkston, which involved the predatory use of alcohol to facilitate the assault of an incapacitated adult, his management is a priority for the Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his long history in the clergy across the Diocese of Paisley and Archdiocese of Glasgow necessitates a thorough review of his past interactions within those communities.
Upon his placement on the Sex Offenders Register, Baillie must comply with all notification requirements regarding his identity and residency. Authorities state that his attempt to “iron out” the evidence of his crime in Glasgow reflects a deceptive character that requires permanent vigilance. Any future attempt to hold a position of authority, fail to disclose his location to the authorities, or approach the victim will result in immediate arrest and a return to the prison system.
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