Calls for disgraced Stuart Hogg to be STRIPPED of his MBE after being convicted of five-year domestic abuse campaign
DISGRACED rugby star Stuart Hogg is facing calls for him to be stripped of his MBE.
Domestic abuse expert Dr Mairead Tagg said the ex-Scotland captain, 32, should not keep the gong after his conviction on Monday for harassing his estranged wife.
The psychologist said: “We should not be rewarding anyone who behaves how Hogg has. His MBE should be withdrawn.
“His estranged wife needs a lifelong non-harassment order against him.”
Hogg pled guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to abusing Gillian, 37, over five years.
He will be sentenced next month.
Tory MSP Pam Gosal, who has proposed a Bill to tackle domestic abuse, said: “After being convicted of such a serious offence, he should hand back his MBE. If he refuses, stripping him of the award should be considered.”
Hogg, of French side Montpellier, got his MBE in January.
UK Government guidance says he should be a “good citizen and role model”.
The Forfeiture Committee can strip honours with sovereign approval.
During a hearing at Selkirk Sheriff Court earlier this week, Hogg admitted subjecting Gillian to a five-year campaign of domestic abuse.
The former rugby star shouted and swore at “scared” Gillian, who suffered a panic attack after he bombarded her with distressing texts.
During one incident Hogg sent her more than 200 messages within a couple of hours despite being requested not to contact her.
The court was also told that Gillian became terrified of her husband during bouts of booze binges.
The single charge stated that he engaged “in behaviour which was abusive” to his ex and that he “did shout and swear in an aggressive manner, track her movements (and) send messages which were alarming and distressing”.
Prosecutor Drew Long told the court that paranoid Hogg used an app to keep tabs on Gillian, who finally left him last year.
Hogg initially faced further charges, including stalking, but his not guilty pleas were accepted.
In 2022, Gillian went on a night out and was bombarded with texts from her husband which “caught the attention of people she was with”.
Stuart Hogg: Timeline
By Jennifer Jones
December 31 2011: A 19-year-old Hogg signs a four-year deal with Glasgow Warriors’.
January 6 2012: Hogg is one of six uncapped players picked for Scotland’s Six Nations campaign.
February 13 2012: Stuart makes his Scotland debut after Max Evans hobbled off 15 minutes into a losing Cardiff clash with Wales.
February 23 2012:The teenage full-back made his first Scotland start at the 6 Nations clash against France at Murrayfield. He became the youngest try scorer in 79 years when he crashed over the line after just five minutes.
April 30 2013: Hogg tours as part of the Brit and Irish Lions squad including down under for three Tests against Australia.
July 3 2014: Rangers-daft Stuart is called up Scotland’s Commonwealth Games sevens squad and scores a try at Ibrox.
November 2014: Extends his contract with Warriors for two years, keeping him in the club until at least 2017.
March 2017: Wins the Six Nations Player of the Championship poll for a second straight year – despite Scotland finishing fourth.
June and July 2017: Hogg was named one of two Scots players selected for Lions’ tour of new Zealand – but crashed out with injuries before the tests due to an accidental collision with teammate Conor Murray’s elbow.
November 2018: Hogg announces he will leave Glasgow Warriors after nine years after the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
November 2019: Joins Exeter Chiefs.
Jan 2020: Hogg is named Scotland captain for the 2020 Six Nations before Covid-19 halted the contest.
November 2020: Hogg becomes a European and English premiership champion after winning against Racing 92 and Wasps during 2019/2020 finals.
Jan 2021: His form during the 2021 Six Nations saw Hogg tipped for a third tour with the British & Irish Lions to South Africa.
February 5 2022: Captains Scotland to their first back-to-back win against England in four decades
March 27 2023: Announces his shock retirement from professional rugby after the Rugby World Cup.
July 9 2023: He dramatically quits the sport two months before the tournament. He said he wanted to take up a new career path and that “his body was broken”.
November 16 2023: Hogg splits with his wife Gillian Hogg and boasts on social media enjoying a spa weekend with “world’s sexist jockey” Leonna Mayor. The post comes days after his ex gave birth to their fourth child.
November 28 2023: Hogg pulls out at the 11th hour hosting a dinner celebrating the 150th anniversary of his home-town club, Hawick RFC.
December 30 2023: He ends the year on a high being awarded an MBE by the King.
January 1 2024: Hogg is caught up in a New Year’s Day bust-up at his brother’s house.
March 1 2024: He is arrested at his estranged wife’s house for alleged threatening or abusive behaviour.
April 29 2024: Stuart Hogg revealed he has spent time in rehab and admitted making “mistakes” as he shares an update with his followers on Instagram.
May 2024: He makes multiple appearances at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, flanked by his parents, and smuggled out of the court via a side door to avoid the press and public.
June 6, 2024: Hogg, now 32, is lured back out of retirement by French side Montpellier.
September 24, 2024: TV presenter girlfriend Leonna Mayor, 33, shows off her baby bump after she announces she is pregnant to Hogg on social media.
November 4, 2024: Hogg is convicted of a five-year domestic abuse campaign against his estranged ex-wife including “using an app to track” her and bombarding Gillian Hogg, 36, with hundreds of text messages.
The following year, the couple moved to Roxburghshire where Hogg used the tracker to snoop on her.
In 2023, the mother decided to leave the sportsman and sought advice from a domestic abuse service, the court heard.
In February this year, he entered the family home despite being told not to and became “belligerent”.
On February 21, police were called due to Hogg “shouting and swearing” and he was taken into custody.
He was bailed on the condition not to contact his estranged wife.
But in August, Hogg was on a video call with his children and requested that they pass the device to their mother.
Angela Gray KC, defending, said: “Mr Hogg accepts these incidents have fallen short of what is expected of a husband.”
Hogg will be sentenced next month. Sheriff Peter Paterson will consider a non-harassment order and an anti-domestic abuse programme.
Hogg, now with French club Montpellier, declined to comment as he left court.
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.
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