JULIE BINDEL: Slap on the wrist for Stuart Hogg’s five-year reign of terror sends wrong signal to abusers

In the 45 years I have spent campaigning to end domestic violence and sexual assault towards women and girls, terrible and irresponsible failures of the criminal justice system have come thick and fast.

Courts deciding to bail men on charges of attempted murder, despite their being a direct danger to the victim; rapists let off lightly because they wear nice suits in the dock.

I have seen catastrophic failures in all areas and, after all these years of feminists fighting to improve the system, the fact that the likes of Stuart Hogg are still, effectively, getting away with it incenses me.

For putting his wife Gillian through five years of hell, Hogg was given a Community Payback Order – which amounts to 12 months of ‘supervision’ – whatever that might mean.

He lives in France, so this so-called monitoring will amount to the odd Zoom call with a social worker. He has, in effect, got away with his crimes.

Let’s take a look at what Hogg has put the mother of his four children through: the rugby player has subjected her to a litany of abuse, harassment and humiliation that amounts to classic coercive control.

But it appears that his career is more important than her safety, dignity and wellbeing.

It’s not as if he hadn’t been warned.

Last year, police were called to the couple’s home, to an incident considered so serious that he was taken into custody.

Hogg was bailed awaiting trial, but broke his bail conditions, for which he was fined £600.

This man was not about to give up his reign of terror; every expert in domestic violence and abuse knows that men willing to breach bail conditions are dangerous.

Domestic abuse offenders need to be told, in no uncertain terms, that unless they stop, there will be consequences.

Instead, Hogg’s ‘punishment’ doesn’t even extend – as it would in England and Wales – to him making any contribution to society in the form of community service.

It amounts to the lightest, slightest of taps on the wrist.

Now, on top of having been humiliated by Hogg’s abuse, Gillian is humiliated all over again – this time at the hands of the courts.

Stuart Hogg, seen here arriving at court, was given a Community Payback Order – which amounts to 12 months of ‘supervision’

The very serious crime of coercive control was introduced in Scotland in 2018. It is a red flag for homicide.

Denied any freedom, victims of coercive control are constantly walking on eggshells, their every movement monitored.

These women are belittled both in public and in front of their children.

One victim I know was forced to have trackers on her phone and car, allowing her abuser to monitor where she had been and how long she had taken. He constantly accused her of stopping and talking to men.

Hogg’s behaviour towards Gillian was similar.

Hogg has caused immeasurable harm. No doubt his victim, who is a courageous and strong woman, will nevertheless be traumatised for some time.

Women who have experienced these tactics find themselves constantly looking over their shoulders, and it is difficult for them to relax or trust anyone.

It was even said in court that there was no point in interrupting his career (he earns hundreds of thousands of pounds a year and has an MBE).

During the years of abuse Gillian suffered, she was often scared of Hogg. He was angry as well as controlling, and she is clearly scarred by his behaviour. One day, he sent more than 200 text messages – resulting in her suffering a serious panic attack.

While Hogg was out on drinking binges with friends, Gillian would sit at home, dreading what mood he would be in when he returned.

Any man inflicting such terror on an intimate partner should face serious consequences.

The Crown Office should appeal this derisory sentence on the grounds that it is overly lenient and it sends entirely the wrong message to men.

Domestic abuse is a heinous crime. It is time it was treated as one.