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Former Scotland Rugby Union captain Stuart Hogg was sentenced to supervision for a year on Thursday, avoiding a prison sentence after admitting he abused his estranged wife over the course of five years.
The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to a single charge of domestic violence from his ex-partner, Gillian Hogg, when he appeared in court in Scotland on November 4.
He admitted shouting and swearing, following Gillian Hogg’s movements and sending her alarming and distressing messages.
Sheriff Peter Paterson sentenced Hogg to a community recovery order with a year’s supervision when he appeared in court for sentencing on Thursday.
He also imposed a further no-harassment order unless Hogg, who plays for French club Montpellier, approaches or contacts Gillian Hogg for five years, mirroring one last month.
Paterson told Hogg the sentence was an “alternative to custody.”
Hogg made no comment as he left the court accompanied by his parents.
He was previously banned from approaching or contacting Gillian Hogg for five years in December after he admitted breaching bail conditions by contacting her repeatedly in June, when one night she received 28 texts of him.
The court had previously been told Hogg was going through a divorce.
He was told he reprimanded Gillian Hogg for “not being fun” after she continued to drink bums with her colleagues, and once sent her more than 200 text messages in a matter of hours, leading to a panic attack .
Lynne Barrie, Procurator Fiscal (Prosecutor) for the case, said on Thursday: “No one should live in fear of a partner or former partner.
“The trauma suffered by the victims – and the children who bear witness to these crimes – is significant. I urge anyone affected by a similar offense to come forward and report it.”
Police Scotland Detective Sergeant Jade Wardell said: “Domestic violence in any form is completely unacceptable.
“Without the victim coming forward and reporting these incidents to us, we would not have been able to ensure Hogg faced the consequences.”
Hogg, one of Scotland’s all-time top scorers, won his last cap in March 2023 and has also represented the British and Irish Lions.
He retired from professional rugby in July 2023, but returned ahead of the current European season after signing for Montpellier on a two-year contract.
JDG / PI
