Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott has been found guilty of child sexual abuse, a verdict handed down by the High Court in Glasgow that’s rocking the sports world. This isn’t just some minor infraction; we’re talking about deeply disturbing charges that have now been proven in court.
The Charges and the Trial That Exposed Everything
Dott, 49, denied two charges of lewd and libidinous behavior, but the evidence presented during the five-day trial told a horrifying story. The court heard how Dott exposed himself and inappropriately touched a primary school girl in the 1990s. As if that wasn’t sickening enough, he also attacked a young boy between 2006 and 2010. This isn’t just allegations; this is a conviction from a jury after a full trial, confirming the deeply disturbing acts.
Disturbing Details and a Long Road to Justice
The jurors heard specific, stomach-churning details about Dott’s actions. With the girl, Dott “caressed” her bottom while giving her a piggyback and, on another occasion, exposed himself to her. For the young boy, the abuse involved being “rewarded” with money, crisps, and fizzy drinks after being molested in a shower at a South Lanarkshire home. The boy, now a man in his 20s, also detailed abuse in a car and “inappropriate touching” while Dott played online poker. It’s a gut-punch that police contacted Dott about these allegations way back in 2001, but no charges were brought then. It took a new statement from the woman in 2025 to bring this entire ordeal to light and finally see justice served. When the jurors delivered their verdict, Dott, who won the world championship at The Crucible in 2006, covered his face with his hands and shook his head. He’s been taken into custody.
Lord Harrower has set the sentencing for September 29 in Edinburgh. That’s when Dott, who once called these allegations “disgusting,” will face the full weight of justice for crimes defined as lewd and libidinous behavior,a term for sexual crimes against children committed prior to December 1, 2010. Dott’s denial ultimately didn’t stand up, and his future is now irrevocably changed as he awaits his fate. It’s a dark end to a career that once saw him at the top of his sport.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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