World
Former Scotland international Stuart Hogg pleads guilty to domestic abuse charge
Stuart Hogg has pled guilty to a domestic abuse charge after being arrested yesterday afternoon.
The 32-year-old former Scotland rugby captain admitted a charge of behaving in an abusive way towards his partner or ex-partner, in breach of Section 1 of the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016.
Sentencing at Jedburgh Sheriff Court was adjourned until later this month, when he has other matters calling in court, and he was released on bail. The sheriff overseeing the case continued consideration of a Non-Harassment Order, which could see him banned from approaching or contacting the person in question and talking about them on social media, the Daily Record reports.
READ MORE: Edinburgh worker left ‘shaken’ by ‘speeding BMW’ driver after alleged hit and run
READ MORE: West Lothian police arrest and charge man, 30, following fatal motorbike crash
We told this morning how he had been arrested for breaching bail conditions ahead of a trial for alleged domestic abuse towards Gillian Hogg, his wife. Police Scotland confirmed earlier he had been arrested on Tuesday, July 2, at a property in Hawick, in the Borders.
The dad-of-four was first arrested in February and denies three charges in relation to his estranged partner, with a trial scheduled to take place in July. His last court hearing before today came in May, at the same court building. He hid from photographers and was driven away by his parents after a five-minute hearing.
Join Edinburgh Live’s Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
At that hearing, he was bailed with special conditions banning him from contacting Gillian and approaching her address near Hawick, Roxburghshire. The allegations involve relate to a seven-year spell, including claims of stalking and controlling behaviour at addresses across the country.
He is charged with engaging in a course of conduct which caused Gillian fear and alarm, between January 2017 and March 2019, in Glasgow and Hawick. Prosecutors claim he acted aggressively, shouted and swore, repeatedly accused her of cheating on him, repeatedly attempted to control family life, monitored her communication with others and repeatedly tracked her movements.
He is also accused of acting in a similar manner at properties in Hawick and Devon, between April 2019 and March, 2024, and is said to have repeatedly sent her messages of an alarming and distressing nature, making threats to harm himself.
The third charge against states he had been released on an undertaking not to approach her in any way apart from arranging child contact, but contacted her at her home on March 30, 2024.
Hogg retired from rugby before last year’s World Cup after racing up a century of caps and turning out for the British and Irish Lions in three tours. As well as winning national and European titles with Exeter Chiefs and Glasgow Warriors, he is holds the record as Scotland’s all-time leading try scorer.
He was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New year Honours List for services to rugby union and revealed in November 2023 that he was in a relationship with Sky Sport commentator Leonna Mayor after the birth of his fourth child. After his arrest in February he told his followers on social media he had a “reset” at a rehabilitation clinic.
He wrote: “I was lost, needed help, direction, time away from the spotlight to be able to take a deep breath and think.
“I’ve been so concerned about what people thought of me, how I was coming across, the impact I would have on them and how I would survive the day. I lived every moment in my head and it wasn’t healthy.
“Spending time at a rehabilitation centre, allowed me to reset, learn about myself and talk about how I felt, without being judged. It’s not been easy but it was the right thing to do.
Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
“Taking accountability was the first step in the right direction. I accept I have made mistakes and understand why l acted as I did.”
Despite retiring from rugby last year, last month it was revealed Hogg signed a two-year deal with French side Montpellier.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2pm on Tuesday, 2 July, 2024, officers attended at an address in Hawick and a 32-year-old man was arrested and charged. He is due to appear at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday, 3 July.”