Former Scotland rugby captain Stuart Hogg has been urged to show improvement in fulfilling a supervision order following his admission of mistreating his estranged wife over a five-year period, a court has revealed.
Hogg, aged 32, confessed last year to a single count of domestic abuse against his former partner, Gillian Hogg, during a court appearance at Selkirk Sheriff Court. His admission included instances of yelling, swearing, monitoring her movements, and sending alarming and distressing messages.
Sheriff Peter Paterson sentenced Hogg to a community payback order with one year of supervision as an alternative to imprisonment in January. Additionally, he imposed a five-year ban on Hogg approaching or communicating with Mrs. Hogg. A review of the order occurred at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, which Hogg did not attend.
His solicitor, Mat Patrick, informed the court that Hogg has been compliant with all scheduled appointments and has not missed any. However, Patrick acknowledged that progress must be made within the context of a challenging ongoing divorce and associated emotions.
Sheriff Paterson noted that while Hogg may feel aggrieved, he must accept responsibility for his actions and move forward from the situation. The sheriff scheduled another review of the order for June 16, indicating that Hogg’s attendance would be required only if there are issues with his progress.
Hogg had previously been prohibited from contacting Mrs. Hogg for five years after admitting to breaching bail conditions by contacting her repeatedly in June, resulting in a fine and a victim surcharge.
During court proceedings, it was revealed that Hogg criticized his wife for not engaging in social activities and sent an excessive number of text messages. His behavior escalated, leading to his wife seeking support from a domestic abuse service and eventually deciding to leave him.
Despite retiring from professional rugby in 2023, Hogg announced his return last summer after signing with Montpellier. He was awarded an MBE for his contributions to the sport in last year’s New Year Honours list. Calls have been made to revoke his MBE following the court case by SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn.