Rugby star Stuart Hogg given payback order for domestic abuse
2025-01-09
Category: sports

Former Scotland rugby union captain Stuart Hogg has been given a one-year community payback order after he admitted a domestic abuse charge against his estranged wife.The 32-year-old was previously given a five-year non-harassment order and fined £600 after breaching bail conditions.He had admitted shouting and swearing and acting in an abusive manner towards his wife Gillian.Appearing at Selkirk Sheriff Court, he was given a payback order - meaning he will do supervised work in the community - and a non-harassment order was imposed again.
Sheriff Peter Paterson told Hogg the sentence was an alternative to custody.The payback order will be reviewed for compliance on 25 March at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, with the former Scotland international required to appear.He made no comment as he left court accompanied by his parents.Lynne Barrie, procurator fiscal for Lothian and Borders, said Hogg had now been  "held accountable for subjecting his estranged wife to years of domestic abuse".She said the Crown Office recognised the "devastating impact of domestic abuse" and was 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," she added."The trauma suffered by victims – and children who witness these crimes – is significant."I would urge anyone affected by similar offending to come forward and report it."
Last year, Hogg, who plays for Montpellier, admitted a single charge which related to repeated abusive behaviour towards his now estranged wife.Over a five-year period, up to August last year, he engaged in a course of conduct which caused her fear or alarm.The court previously heard how he regularly shouted and swore at his wife while they lived in Hawick, as well as when they lived in Exeter when Hogg played for Exeter Chiefs.He would use offensive language and criticise her for not being "fun".The court was told this was often in response to her wanting to stay upstairs looking after their children rather than going to drink with him and his friends.
Hogg, who was described as being "angry" and "controlling" during the relationship, left his victim scared by his behaviour when he had been drinking.She reported "wishing for it to be morning as quickly as possible so that he would sober up and things would stop".The charge also involved Hogg monitoring his wife's movements through the Find My Phone app after they had split up in 2023, and him sending her sometimes hundreds of text messages in the space of a few hours.The former Glasgow Warriors fullback amassed a century of senior caps for his country and was involved in three British and Irish Lions tours.He remains one of Scotland's all-time leading try scorers and was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year honours list for services to rugby union.Hogg came out of retirement last summer to sign a two-year contract with Montpellier.