Former World Snooker Champion Graeme Dott Found Guilty of Child Sex Abuse

Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott has been found guilty of sexually abusing two children following a five-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The 49-year-old Scottish former professional was convicted on Monday of two charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour involving a girl and a boy who were both of primary-school age at the time of the alleged offences.

The allegations involving the girl covered the period between 1993 and 1996, while those involving the boy dated from 2006 to 2010. The incidents were alleged to have occurred at various locations in Glasgow, South Lanarkshire and in a car.

Dott had pleaded not guilty throughout the proceedings and strongly denied the allegations when he gave evidence during the trial. He previously described the claims as “disgusting” and insisted there was no possibility that he had sexually abused either child.

The prosecution alleged that Dott sexually abused the girl on multiple occasions, including inappropriate touching and exposing himself. In relation to the boy, prosecutors alleged that Dott made sexual remarks, watched him shower and sexually assaulted him.

Both alleged victims, who are now adults, gave evidence during the trial. Prosecutors argued that their accounts were credible and contained similarities, while Dott’s defence challenged the reliability of their evidence and urged the jury to accept his denials.

The jury returned a non-unanimous guilty verdict on both charges after considering the evidence at the Glasgow court.

Dott appeared visibly distressed as the verdict was delivered. The court deferred sentencing until September 29, 2026, when he is due to appear at a separate hearing in Edinburgh. He was also ordered to provide his name and address for inclusion on the sex offenders register.

Dott rose to prominence in professional snooker and reached three World Championship finals. He lost to Ronnie O’Sullivan in the 2004 final before defeating Peter Ebdon to win the world title at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in 2006. He returned to the final in 2010 but lost to Australia’s Neil Robertson.

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association suspended Dott from competition in April 2025 after he was charged in connection with the allegations.

His conviction brings to an end the trial over allegations dating back decades, although the sentencing phase of the case is still to come.