Bogdan Gabriel Colt, a 40-year-old former care assistant, has been removed from the social care register after he chased his ex-partner with an axe through an Edinburgh street. The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) struck him off following his conviction for the attack on August 24, 2024.
Colt, also known as Gabe, targeted Claire Hoggins, a mother of two, after accusing her of cheating. He had previously attacked her at her home in Saline, Fife. The court heard that Colt, who lived in Bathgate, had placed a tracker on her car and followed her to a friend's address in Edinburgh, where he smashed the car window with the axe.
Violent Attack and Conviction
Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told how Colt, originally from Romania, engaged in a course of abusive conduct, including repeatedly calling her names, accusing her of cheating, tracking her car, and chasing her while armed with an axe. He also admitted to possessing the axe and using it to damage her vehicle.
The attack on Claire began at her own home just hours before he chased her along a residential street. Armed police ended the pursuit after neighbours raised the alarm.
SSSC Decision and Impact
In its decision, the SSSC described how Colt "maliciously" caused damage to the car, "striking the vehicle multiple times with an axe," and noted the attack was "aggravated by involving abuse of your partner or ex partner." Some details were redacted to protect privacy, but the decision letter said his behaviour "raises significant concerns about your underlying values and is fundamentally incompatible with continued professional registration."
Colt was jailed for 22 months last October. Claire, who worked as a senior nurse at a care home in Fife where Colt was a care assistant, said after sentencing: "There was a massive wave of relief when I heard the judge hand down a jail term. It will be difficult, but I'm now finally able to try and move on with my life, albeit completely traumatised by these events. Standing through the trial was unbearable at points."
She added: "All the way through and even on the day of sentencing, he showed no remorse. This man is a danger to women and I'm glad the judge was able to see through his excuses. It's important he never gets an opportunity to do something like this again. I still suffer from PTSD. I was left screaming, running and crying for help, it was the most terrifying ordeal of my life."
