A Catholic priest has described how he struggled for two years to fend off the advances of an 'infatuated' parishioner was determined to break his vow of celibacy.

Father William MacLean, 41, said Czech-born hotel worker Marcela Lucanova, 30, repeatedly stalked him at St Mary's Church where he is the parish priest in Portree, Skye.

He alleged in court that he was also beseiged by emails, including one in which she asked for a holiday snap of him in a mankini.

It came as the trial got under way of Ms Lucanova, who has pleaded not guilty to the offence at the town's sheriff court.

The court heard she joined the parish in 2013, whereupon a 'healthy' friendship developed between the pair.

But as the months went by Ms Lucanova became more intense towards him and called him 'My Littler Lamb' verbally and in emails.

Fr MacLean said he asked her to stop addressing him in that way, but she refused.

He told fiscal Stewart Maciver: "I felt that as a person who took a vow of celibacy that term was not appropriate. Celibacy was discussed. I can't remember who raised it first.

"I may have voiced that I wondered if it would ever change. I felt she used it to try and undermine my priesthood. She wanted me to leave the priesthood for her.

"It made me question my own calling. Where my future lay. She threatened to take her own life."

He was asked by Sheriff Richard Davidson if he felt he was being blackmailed to engage with Ms Lucanova or otherwise she would commit suicide.

Fr MacLean said: "I thought it was a real threat and I had to act on it.

"I did not feel safe in her presence if nobody else was there.

"I thought she wanted to have a relationship with me.She sent me an email saying she wanted me to leave the priesthood and marry her.

"She wanted some sort of physical intimacy. Latterly I blocked her emails."

Fr MacLean said that on one occasion she left her care in the church car-park all weekend and he feared that people would think she was inside.

He described how Ms Lucanova drove to Kilmarnock and delivered a three-page letter for his hospital consultant brother at work which claimed the priest wanted to be married like him. He denied the claim.

"One of the biggest things you have to consider when you go into the priesthood is the celibacy issue. Some leave over this rather than complete their priest training."

He denied being attracted to Ms Lucanova.

Fr MacLean said he found it a 'stressful and disturbing' experience and reported the matter to the police in October.

He added: "Marcela said people in the parish were gossiping about me having a girlfriend. I like being a priest, but I am not perfect. Everybody has their good days and bad days. She was infatuated with me.

"There was no risk to my celibacy but there was a risk of scandal."

She said the parishoner in an email used the words "foxy," "mankini," and "lycra."

He added: "She asked me to send her a photo from my holidays of me in a mankini. She raised the matter of actual physical intimacy."

In one email, the court heard Ms Lucanova talked about ' a woman who knows how to seduce a man' and described him as 'weak and immature''

Defence lawyer Duncan Burd told the priest there was a photograph of a sponsored cycle ride with his arm round Ms Lucanova, but Father MacLean said it was a group photograph.

The priest,who also ministers at Broadford, Kishorn and Dornie, denied a suggestion he had done anything to encourage intimacy. He added: "I did not repeatedly tell her I was unhappy about not having sexual relations."

The trial was adjourned until next week.