Disgraced rugby star Stuart Hogg has admitted a five-year campaign of domestic abuse against his ex-wife.
The former Scottish captain repeatedly abused the mother of his four children, shouting and insulting Gillian Hogg, as well as tracking her movements and bombarding her with text messages.
On the day he was due to stand trial, the 32-year-old appeared at Selkirk Sheriff Court, accompanied by his parents Margaret and John, and pleaded guilty to a single charge of breaching domestic abuse laws.
During the years of abuse inflicted on Mrs Hogg, he caused her to have a panic attack, berated her for “not being funny” and sent her “aggressive and hostile” messages.
But as he left court, the embarrassed star refused to apologize to his victim and refused to answer questions from the press.
Hogg, who was capped 100 times by Scotland, and his wife are now divorcing.
Prosecutor Drew Long said Mrs Hogg was “afraid” of her husband “because of his drinking behaviour”.
Former Scotland rugby international Stuart Hogg has pleaded guilty to a charge of domestic abuse against his ex-wife.
The father-of-four arrived at Selkirk Sheriff Court accompanied by his parents.
Stuart Hogg, 32, on Monday admitted a charge of domestic abuse, which took place over a five-year period.
Selkirk Sheriff Court heard Hogg admitted sending 200 text messages in just a few hours after the breakdown of his marriage (Hogg pictured in September).
He added: “She described him as angry and controlling and said that when he drank, she ‘wished it would be morning as quickly as possible so he would sober up and things would stop.'”
The court heard that when the Glasgow Warriors full-back joined Exeter Chiefs in Devon in 2019, his behavior “deteriorated” while out partying with colleagues.
Long said: “He regularly shouted and swore at her, using particularly offensive language and criticizing her for not being funny.”
“This would be a response to her wanting to take care of his children instead of coming to drink with him and his friends.”
When the couple returned to Hawick, Roxburghshire, in May 2023, Hogg began going out drinking more regularly.
In August of that year it became clear he had used an app to track where she was after he “questioned the whereabouts” when she was dropping the children off.
Shortly after, she and the children moved in with her parents. Mr Long said: “She followed advice from a domestic abuse counseling service and no longer felt safe at home.”
Despite the breakup, she was still inundated with calls and texts.
In his text bombardments, Hogg alternated between “loving and being aggressive and hostile.”
Long said: “Mr Hogg sent his wife a series of aggressive messages which caused her to suffer a panic attack.”
“Since the break-up, there have been days when Mr Hogg sent over 200 text messages in a few hours, despite being asked to leave Mrs Hogg alone.”
The rugby player admitted a charge of domestic abuse under section one of Scotland’s Domestic Abuse Act in relation to his ex-wife Gillian.
Today was the first of a scheduled three-day trial on the charges.
In February this year, Hogg entered the family home, the court was told, and swore at his wife in front of their children while being “belligerent about her right to be on the property”.
Mr Long added: “In response, Mrs Hogg and the children hid in one of the children’s bedrooms.”
Hogg was later arrested and told not to contact his wife, but he did so again. Angela Gray, KC, defending, said the incidents taken in isolation would have been “unlikely” to have risen above the threshold needed to reach the criminal court.
But he said: “Mr Hogg accepts that these incidents in isolation fell short of what is expected as a husband.”
The domestic abuse charge Hogg admitted says he repeatedly shouted, swore and acted aggressively, followed her movements, sent her messages of an alarming and distressing nature, contacted her and approached her when he was prohibited from doing so.
After pleading guilty, Sheriff Peter Paterson told Hogg to return to court on December 5 for sentencing.
Hogg, who toured with the British and Irish Lions three times, shocked rugby fans when he unexpectedly retired last summer.
He was then awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year’s Honors list for services to sport.
He later returned to the game with French side Montpellier.
Hogg is now expecting a child with his new girlfriend Leonna Mayor, 34, a former jockey and TV presenter.
Charlotte Woodward, of the National Center against Domestic Violence, said: “Sports people are in a position of influence and there needs to be a clear message from employers that this behavior has consequences.”
“In many other professions, offenders would face disciplinary action and sport should be no different.”
A Montpellier spokesperson said: “The club will not be commenting at this time.”