Former Scottish rugby union captain Stuart Hogg was sentenced to a year’s supervision on Thursday, avoiding a prison sentence after he admitted abusing his estranged wife for five years.
The 32-year-old pleaded guilty to a single charge of domestic violence against his ex-partner, Gillian Hogg, when he appeared in court in Scotland on November 4.
He admitted shouting and swearing, tracking Gillian Hogg’s movements and sending her messages of an alarming and distressing nature.
Sheriff Peter Paterson sentenced Hogg to a community payback order with a year’s supervision when he appeared in court for sentencing on Thursday.
He also imposed another non-harassment order banning Hogg, who plays for French club Montpellier, from approaching or contacting Gillian Hogg for five years, similar to the one imposed last month.
Paterson told Hogg the sentence was an “alternative to detention”.
Hogg made no comment as he left court accompanied by his parents.
In December he was already banned from approaching or contacting Gillian Hogg for five years after he admitted breaching his bail conditions by contacting her repeatedly in June, when one night she received 28 SMS from him.
The court had previously heard that Hogg was divorcing.
He was told he reprimanded Gillian Hogg for “not being fun” after going on a drinking binge with her colleagues, and sent her more than 200 text messages in the space of a few hours, leading to a panic attack .
Lynne Barrie, prosecuting attorney (prosecutor) handling the case, said on Thursday: “No one should have to live in fear of a partner or ex-partner.
“The trauma suffered by the victims – and the children who witness these crimes – is significant. I urge anyone affected by similar crimes 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 that Hogg would face the consequences.”
Hogg, one of Scotland’s all-time leading try 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.
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