Rufus MacLean, 22, who grew up in the Scottish Borders, received a community recovery order at Edinburgh Sheriff’s Court today, Thursday 16 March 2023, after admitting to abusing his then-girlfriend over a period of nearly two years.
He was also placed under a non-harassment order not to contact his ex-partner for 10 years.
Sheriff Matthew Auchincloss said McClain’s behavior was “aggressive” and “controlling”.
Addressing McClain, who was dressed in a black jacket and trousers in the dock, he said: “You may not have intended to cause harm, but because of the long period of time … you should have known that there was a risk of harm from his conduct.”
“This behavior has caused your ex-partner great harm.
“The minimum prison sentence has been exceeded.”
However, the sheriff said there is a suitable alternative to custody.
The court heard that the usual amount of unpaid hours served in a post-trial community reimbursement order is 200 hours.
But because McClain is considered a young man, his working hours are reduced to 150 hours.
Sheriff Auchincloss reduced that time to 120 hours, to be completed over nine months, given McClain’s age and early admission of guilt.
He added, “As a young man you have a greater capacity for change… I realize that your relationship dynamics may have been difficult. You have shown remorse and shame with your behavior.”
Gordon’s Berwickshire player MacLean, who has three caps in his career, has admitted domestic violence which took place between April 2019 and January 2021.
The charge against him said he yelled at her, swore at her, and acted aggressively towards her.
He also said he told her what clothes she could and could not wear, and asked for passwords for her social media accounts.
At an earlier hearing, McClain admitted to controlling his then-girlfriend’s movements and insisted that location tracking services be enabled on her phone.
He also admitted to pushing her to injure her, repeatedly calling her derogatory and insulting names, sending abusive messages, and telling her who she could and could not meet with.
McLean’s solicitor, Ian Smith, had previously said in court that his client was willing to learn and that the consequences of his transgression were already significant.
McClain lost his job and income, he said, and his dreams of playing for his country were over.
Smith said there was no doubt MacLean would have been in Scotland’s current squad had he not been found guilty, and that the offenses largely took place when he was still a teenager.
Sheriff Auchinclose has also been informed that McClane has expressed remorse for his actions.
After McClain admitted the offences, his club, Glasgow Warriors, terminated his contract with immediate effect.
After an internal disciplinary hearing jointly with Scotland Rugby, the club said it had sacked the player on grounds of “gross misconduct” and “breach of contract”.
At the time, the Warriors’ managing director, Al Kellock, said: “Rufus has admitted domestic violence and his actions cannot be condoned, which has led to his termination with Glasgow Warriors.
We have taken this very seriously. Sadly, with any crime there is a victim and as a Canadian we want to acknowledge the impact on the young woman involved.
“We are committed to ensuring that our players continue to set positive role models and to be recognized for the outstanding positions they occupy.”
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