FORMER Scotland rugby union captain Stuart Hogg has been given a non-harassment order after contacting his ex-wife and breaching his bail.
Hogg, 32, had his sentence for abusing his estranged wife Gillian over the course of five years deferred until January 9.
Former Scotland Rugby International Stuart Hogg appearing at court today[/caption]
Hogg warming up before a Six Nations match last year[/caption]
He earlier admitted breaching bail conditions by repeatedly contacting his ex-partner, Gillian Hogg, in June.
Hogg was sentenced to a five-year non-harassment order today at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.
For the bail breach, he was placed on a five-year non-harassment order and fined £600, with an additional £40 victim surcharge, when he appeared at Jedburgh Sheriff Court for sentencing today.
Hogg previously pleaded guilty to a single charge of domestic abuse of Mrs Hogg when he appeared at Selkirk Sheriff Court on November 4.
He admitted shouting and swearing, tracking her movements and sending her messages which were alarming and distressing in nature.
The court previously heard he berated Mrs Hogg for “not being fun” after going on drinking binges with his colleagues, and once sent her more than 200 text messages in the space of a few hours.
The 32-year-old had been due to stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court on November 4 but pleaded guilty that day to a charge of domestic abuse, between 2019 and 2024 at locations including Hawick in the Scottish Borders.
Hogg now lives abroad and plays for French club Montpellier, and the court was told he is in the process of a divorce.
Prosecutor Drew Long told the court on November 4 that the couple moved to Exeter in 2019 with their three young children, all aged under three, but Hogg’s “behaviour deteriorated” as he went out partying.
Hogg would “shout and swear and accuse Mrs Hogg of not being fun” for not joining in drinking, and her family “noticed a change in her”, the court heard.
In 2022, Mrs Hogg went on a night out and was bombarded with text messages from her husband which “caught the attention of the people she was with”, the prosecutor said.
The following year, the couple moved to Hawick but Hogg used an app to track his wife and “questioned her whereabouts” while she was dropping the children off, Mr Long told the court.
In 2023, Mrs Hogg decided to leave the rugby player and sought advice from a domestic abuse service.
In September of that year, the court heard last month, Hogg sent so many messages that it led Mrs Hogg to have a panic attack, and Hogg “sent in excess of 200 texts in a few hours despite being asked to leave her alone”.
On February 21 this year, police were called due to Hogg “shouting and swearing”.
Cops then took the star into custody and he was placed on a bail order stipulating not to contact Mrs Hogg, or to enter the family home.
Hogg retired from professional rugby last year but in July this year it was announced that he would be returning after signing for Montpellier on a two-year contract.
The former Glasgow Warriors and Exeter Chiefs player was made an MBE for services to the sport in this year’s New Year Honours list.
The former Scotland captain breached his bail conditions[/caption]
The court was previously told Hogg’s ‘behaviour deteriorated’ as he went out partying[/caption]
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
