STUART HOGG OF JEDBURGH FACES JUDGMENT FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE AND HARASSMENT IN SCOTLAND

Stuart Hogg, the former captain of the Scotland rugby union team, is preparing to face sentencing after admitting to a pattern of abusive behavior towards his estranged wife, Gillian Hogg, spanning over five years. The details of his misconduct came to light during a court appearance at Selkirk Sheriff Court on November 4, where he pleaded guilty to a single charge of domestic abuse against his former partner.

Hogg’s admission included allegations of shouting and swearing at Gillian, monitoring her movements without her consent, and sending her a series of alarming and distressing messages. These actions caused significant emotional distress to Gillian, who had previously sought to distance herself from her husband. The court heard that Hogg had been banned from approaching or contacting Gillian for a period of five years. This restriction was imposed after Hogg breached bail conditions in June by repeatedly attempting to contact her, culminating in a night when she received a staggering 28 text messages from him.

In response to this breach, Sheriff Peter Paterson issued a five-year non-harassment order against Hogg during a sentencing hearing at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on December 5. Alongside the order, Hogg was fined £600, with an additional surcharge of £40 directed towards victims. The court also addressed the original domestic abuse charge, which was scheduled for sentencing last month but was deferred until January 9. The delay was granted to allow for clarification on whether a community order with remotely monitored supervision could be imposed, especially considering Hogg’s current residence abroad.

During the court proceedings, prosecutors revealed that Hogg, now 32 years old, had previously berated his wife for “not being fun” after she went on drinking binges with colleagues. It was also disclosed that he once sent more than 200 text messages to her within a few hours, causing her considerable distress. The court heard that in 2022, Gillian Hogg went out for a night and was subjected to a barrage of messages from her husband, which drew the attention of her companions. By 2023, Gillian decided to leave Hogg and sought assistance from a domestic abuse support service. The court was informed that in September 2023, Hogg’s relentless messaging led Gillian to experience a panic attack, as he sent over 200 texts in just a few hours despite being explicitly asked to leave her alone.

On February 21 of the previous year, police were called to intervene after Hogg was found shouting and swearing at Gillian. He was taken into custody and subsequently placed on bail, which explicitly prohibited him from contacting her or entering their family home. Hogg retired from professional rugby in July 2023 but made headlines again last summer when it was announced he was returning to the sport after signing a two-year contract with Montpellier. The court’s upcoming sentencing at Selkirk Sheriff Court will determine the final legal consequences for Hogg’s actions, with the hearing scheduled for Thursday.