RUGBY star Stuart Hogg has been charged with stalking a woman and bombarding her with “alarming and distressing” messages – at the same time he’s accused of a domestic abuse campaign against his ex-wife.
The former Scotland rugby captain faces allegations that he targeted Jill O’Donnell on April 1 and August 23 last year.
Court papers allege he “did engage in a course of conduct which caused her fear or alarm in that you did repeatedly telephone her at antisocial hours, repeatedly send her messages of an alarming and distressing nature and repeatedly contact her having been asked not to do so.”
He faced the new charge – along with two breach of bail claims involving his ex – at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday after being arrested on Monday.
He had been set to face trial on Tuesday over the domestic abuse claims involving missus Gillian, 37 – and was also to be sentenced after previously admitting breaking strict bail conditions not to approach her.
But the case will now call in November – with the three extra charges added.
Hogg was bailed by a sheriff despite a previous warning he would risk being held on remand should he breach bail again.
His lawyer Matt Patrick yesterday told the court that there was nothing “violent” in the claims – as he argued against a prosecution bid to have Hogg remanded ahead of trial.
He said: “There is nothing in the new allegations that allege violence or any threats of violence.
“In the statement I have seen today by the complainer it explicitly states that.
“These breaches have arisen as a result of Mr Hogg contacting the complainer via Facetime to speak to his kids.”
Sheriff Peter Paterson said: “It seems to me that part of this may be your desire to see your children, and for that reason you are going to be released on bail.
“But you are not to enter (her house) and you are not to approach, attempt to approach, or contact Gillian Hogg in any way.
“That means you can say absolutely nothing to her at all under any circumstances.”
Hogg, dressed in a white jumper and blue trousers, spoke only to confirm his name.
The fresh breach of bail claims are linked to allegations from August 17 involving Gillian.
Court papers state on that day Hogg blocked her car by parking and he did “prevent” her from driving away.
Prosecutors claim that he also used Facetime calls to contact her.
Handcuffed Hogg was taken from a custody van into Jedburgh Sheriff Court yesterday.
He had been nicked on Monday after arriving in Scotland from France – where he scored a try at the weekend for new club Montpellier.
This is the third time Hogg has been arrested. He was previously nicked in February and July.
When Hogg appeared in the dock in July Sheriff Kevin McCarron told him that if he breached any of the court orders it would “highly unlikely” that he would remain at liberty.
In May, he appeared in the dock where he denied abusing and stalking his estranged wife Gillian, 37, over a seven-year period up to August 2024.
Hogg is accused of monitoring her communications and controlling her family life.
He is also charged under section one of the Domestic Abuse Scotland Act.
Hogg allegedly engaged in a course of behaviour which was “abusive”.
Confirming his latest arrest, Police Scotland said: “A 32-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with stalking offences and breach of bail conditions.
“He is due to appear before Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday, 10 September, 2024, and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
