Disgraced former Scotland rugby skipper Stuart Hogg has been spared jail after he admitted to abusing his estranged wife during a five-year campaign of terror.
The 32-year-old made the life of his ex-partner, Gillian Hogg, a living hell, berating her with foul messages and tracking her movements.
His campaign of abuse led to mother-of-three Mrs Hogg suffering from panic attacks, a court heard.
Hulking full-back Hogg – who plays for French side Montpellier – pleaded guilty to a single charge of domestic abuse between 2019 and 2024.
Today he was spared jailed as he was sentenced to a community payback order with one-year of supervision and a five-year non-harassment order – with a judge telling him: ‘This is an alternative to custody.’
During a hearing last month, Hogg was also banned from contacting his estranged wife after breaching bails and hounding her.
Sheriff Peter Paterson handed him a five-year non-harassment at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on December 5, and also fined him £600, with an additional £40 victim surcharge.
Lynne Barrie, procurator fiscal for Lothian and Borders, said: ‘Stuart Hogg has now been convicted and held accountable for subjecting his estranged wife to years of domestic abuse.
Stuart Hogg is seen arriving Selkirk Sheriff Court for sentencing for domestic abuse
The rugby player admitted a charge of domestic abuse under section one of the Domestic Abuse Scotland Act relating to ex-wife Gillian
The court heard the disgraced former Scotland rugby union skipper carried out the abuse during a five-year period
‘The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service recognises the devastating impact of domestic abuse and is committed to the robust prosecution of offences, regardless of who the offender is.
‘No-one should have to live in fear of a partner or former partner. The trauma suffered by victims – and children who witness these crimes – is significant.’
Urging other domestic abuse victims to come forward, she added: ‘We will use all the tools available to us to secure justice, and you will be listened to and supported throughout the process.’
Hogg was due to be sentenced on the domestic abuse charge last month but Sheriff Paterson deferred sentence until today for clarification on whether a community order with remotely monitored supervision can be imposed, as Hogg now lives abroad.
The 5ft 9in rugby union star, dressed in a navy blue coat and blue zip-up sweater, with a shirt and tie underneath, appeared glum as he made his way through a media scrum into Selkirk Sheriff Court for his sentencing hearing this morning.
In relation to the domestic abuse charge, the court previously heard the 32-year-old berated Mrs Hogg for ‘not being fun’ after going on booze binges with his colleagues, and once sent more than 200 text messages to her in the space of a few hours.
Speaking at a hearing in November, prosecutor Drew Long, told the court that Hogg’s behaviour became ‘worse’ when he had been drinking. He said: ‘Gillian Hogg became scared when Mr Hogg got angry.
‘He got worse when he was drinking and Gillian would wish it was morning so he had sobered up… When she was out with friends the accused would often message her to find out her movements.
Hogg is seen arriving on Thursday to find out his fate as he is sentenced for domestic abuse
Hogg leaves court on Thursday after being sentenced for abusing his estranged wife
Gillian Hogg (pictured) was abused during her relationship with Hogg whose behavior would ‘get worse’ when he had been drinking, a court heard
The rugby star is now dating former jockey Leonna Mayor, 34, (pictured) who has vowed to stick by him
‘In August 2023 Mrs Hogg was dropping kids off and received messages from Mr Hogg questioning her movements. It became clear to her that her husband was using an app to track her.
‘The following month she was out with friends and he called her and was shouting and swearing at her.
‘He also sent her unpleasant messages which resulted in Mrs Hogg suffering a panic attack.
‘Following this Gillian contacted a lawyer who wrote to Hogg but this resulted in him turning up at her home and shouting and swearing…. The accused would also shout at Gillian for ‘not being fun’.’
Hogg appeared at Selkirk Sheriff Court for sentencing today.
He had been due to stand trial at the same court in November but pleaded guilty that day to a charge of domestic abuse between 2019 and 2024 at locations including Hawick in the Scottish Borders.
Hogg, who plays for French club Montpellier, now lives abroad and is in the process of a divorce, the court heard that day.
Mr Long said the couple moved to Exeter in 2019 with their three young children, all under three, but Hogg’s ‘behaviour deteriorated’ as he went out partying.
Hogg leaves Selkirk Sheriff Court on Thursday surrounded by police as he is questioned by members of the press
Mr Long said Hogg would ‘shout and swear and accuse Mrs Hogg of not being fun’ for not joining in drinking, and that her family ‘noticed a change in her’.
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 court heard.
The following year, the couple moved to Hawick in the Borders, 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.
The court heard that in September 2023, 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 last year, police were called due to Hogg ‘shouting and swearing’ and he was taken into custody and then placed on a bail order stipulating not to contact Mrs Hogg, or to enter the family home.
Hogg retired from professional rugby in July 2023 but last summer it was announced he was 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 last year’s New Year Honours list.
He is currently dating former jockey Leonna Mayor, 34, who is pregnant and has previously vowed to stick by him.
