Shame of rugby star who gave his number to girl of 14
A PROFESSIONAL rugby player chatted to a schooolgirl and gave her his phone number after falling out with his pregnant wife, a court heard yesterday.
Disgraced Pieter Rossouw de Klerk was sacked by Glasgow Warriors and lost his home after the incident, which ‘freaked out’ the 14-year-old.
South African de Klerk, 25, approached the girl at Scotstoun Stadium on April 14, following a minor row with his wife. Then pregnant, she has subsequently given birth.
At Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday, de Klerk admitted breach of the peace. He was originally charged with stalking, but the Crown accepted his guilty plea to a reduced charge.
Sheriff Kenneth Hogg fined de Klerk £675 and told him: ‘The fact you are a professional rugby player means you have status as a role model and as a role model your behaviour must be exemplary. You let yourself down and you also let down the team you played for, Glasgow Warriors, and you have no one to blame but yourself.
‘You have lost your job and the accommodation that came with it and you have got a lot of explaining to do with your wife. This was a reckless act of total stupidity.’
The court heard the 19-stone tight- head prop chatted to the schoolgirl, described as a promising athlete, and minutes later gave her a piece of paper with his phone number on it.
She said she had been training at the stadium for a number of years and no rugby player had ever approached her before.
Afterwards, the girl told her mother she felt ‘ shocked’, ‘ freaked out’ and ‘panicky’ because de Klerk was at least ten years older than her.
Scottish Rugby Union officials became involved and spoke to de Klerk, who admitted talking to the girl and giving her his phone number.
But he claimed he thought she was 17. He also claimed he had been feeling low as he had had a minor row with his wife and needed someone to talk to.
Defence lawyer Michael Gallen said: ‘He recognises that his behaviour was wholly inappropriate, but it was a relatively brief incident.
‘He is entirely at a loss to explain why he spoke to her. He deeply regrets the incident and is acutely aware of the upset he caused to the girl.’
The court heard that as a result of this incident de Klerk’s contract with Glasgow Warriors was terminated.
Mr Gallen added: ‘ He lost his job and the accommodation in Glasgow that came with it. He has always accepted his actions and intends to leave the country. His wife and child have already flown back to South Africa.’
De Klerk was part of the Glasgow Warriors team that became the first Scottish club to win the Guinness Pro12 league title last season.
‘You have no one to blame but yourself’