DISGRACED rugby star Stuart Hogg has avoided jail after abusing his estranged wife in a five-year reign of terror.
The former Scotland captain berated Gillian Hogg with foul-mouthed outbursts and tracked her movements.
Hogg, 32, also bombarded her with shocking messages – sending 200 texts in just a few hours – causing the mum-of-three to suffer a panic attack.
He has now avoided jail after pleading guilty to a single charge of domestic abuse between 2019 and 2024.
The player was instead sentenced to a community payback order with one year of supervision and a five-year non-harassment order.
Hogg was last month banned from contacting his estranged wife after continuing to hound her while he was bail.
The full-back, who plays for French club Montpellier, was also fined £600, with an additional £40 victim surcharge.
Selkirk Sheriff Court was told the couple moved to Exeter in 2019 with their three young children.
Hogg’s “behaviour deteriorated” as he began partying and he would “shout and swear and accuse Mrs Hogg of not being fun” for not joining in.
Gillian’s family began to notice a “change in her” during this period, the court heard.
In 2022, the mum was on a night out when Hogg bombarded her with text messages that “caught the attention of the people she was with”.
The following year, the couple moved to Hawick in the Borders but Hogg ramped up his domestic abuse campaign.
He used an app to track his wife and “questioned her whereabouts” – even while she was dropping the children off.
Gillian bravely left the abuser last year and sought advice from a domestic abuse service.
Then in February, Hogg was taken into custody after “shouting and swearing” at the mum.
He was placed on bail with the condition he did not contact Gillian or enter the family home.
But in September last year, Hogg flouted the order and hounded Gillian with distressing messages – causing her to suffer a panic attack – despite the mum begging him to leave her alone.
Defiant Gillian spoke out after Hogg pleaded guilty, saying she was ready for her “next chapter”.
She added: “Iv [sic] thought long and hard about a Facebook post, what to say, what not to.
“But there’s nothing more important that needs to come from this than a thank you.
“Thank you to every single person who has reached out to me in ways of love, kindness and support – who have text, messaged, called, visited, sent flowers.
“Who have gave me a hi, a smile, a hug or even just a look to show they care.
“My friends and family have picked me up and carried me through this all and I’ll be grateful forever for them all.
“I have been completely overwhelmed this week especially. The abundance of support and love has swamped me in the most positive way. Thank you.”
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
She also said it was time to “move on” and keep showing her children that “strength comes from unconditional love and support around you, and even when it hurts, love wins”.
Hogg retired from professional rugby in July 2023 signed a two-year contract with Montpellier shortly after.
He is also expecting a baby with new partner Leonna Mayor in September.
Following his conviction, Leonna accused the rugby star’s estranged wife of “making up” charges.
Former Glasgow Warriors and Exeter Chiefs player Hogg was made an MBE for services to the sport in last year’s New Year Honours list.
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