Graeme Dott found guilty of sexually abusing two children after five-day Scottish trial
Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott has been found guilty of sexually abusing two primary school-aged children after a five-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow. The 49-year-old was convicted on two counts of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour and will be sentenced next month.
GLASGOW, Scotland — Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott has been found guilty of sexually abusing two primary school-aged children following a five-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
The 49-year-old Scottish former professional was convicted on Monday, August 24, of two counts of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour involving a girl and a boy over separate periods.
The allegations involving the girl covered the period from 1993 to 1996, while those involving the boy dated from 2006 to 2010. Both sets of incidents were alleged to have occurred in the Glasgow area. The jury found Dott guilty after hearing evidence from the two complainants, who are now adults.
Dott denied the allegations
Dott denied the charges throughout the proceedings and rejected the allegations when he gave evidence during the trial. The court heard his position that he had never behaved inappropriately towards either child.
The trial, presided over by Lord Harrower, examined allegations dating back decades. Prosecutors presented evidence concerning multiple incidents involving the two children, while Dott's defence challenged the allegations and the reliability of evidence presented against him.
The court heard that the female complainant, now in her 40s, described several incidents she said occurred while she was of primary school age. The male complainant, now an adult, also gave evidence about alleged abuse during his childhood.
Conviction follows historic allegations
The allegations against Dott became public in 2025 when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) announced that it had suspended him because of a case scheduled before the High Court in Scotland. The governing body said at the time that it would not comment further while the legal proceedings were continuing.
The suspension came shortly before the 2025 World Snooker Championship, where Dott had been scheduled to compete in qualifying.
The WPBSA's suspension followed the emergence of charges concerning alleged historical abuse of a girl between 1993 and 1996 and a boy between 2006 and 2010. Dott was subsequently tried at the High Court in Glasgow and maintained his denial of the accusations.
From world champion to criminal conviction
Dott built a lengthy career at the highest level of professional snooker after turning professional in 1994. His biggest achievement came in 2006 when he won the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield.
He defeated Peter Ebdon 18-14 in the final to claim his first world title and his first ranking tournament victory. Dott also reached the World Championship final in 2004, losing to Ronnie O'Sullivan, and returned to the final in 2010, when he was beaten by Australia's Neil Robertson.
At his peak, Dott reached No. 2 in the world rankings and established himself as one of Scotland's leading players on the professional circuit.
His professional career was interrupted by the WPBSA suspension in 2025 as the criminal case proceeded. The suspension remained in place while the allegations were investigated and eventually brought before the High Court.
Sentencing scheduled for September
Following Monday's conviction, Dott was remanded in custody pending sentencing. A sentencing hearing is scheduled to take place in Edinburgh on September 29, 2026.
The court has ordered the necessary reports ahead of sentencing. Dott's conviction also carries consequences beyond the immediate criminal proceedings, including the prospect of being placed on the sex offenders register.
The case marks a dramatic fall for a player who once stood at the summit of professional snooker. His 2006 world title remains the defining achievement of his sporting career, but his conviction now leaves his legacy overshadowed by the criminal case and its consequences.
Editor’s note: This report concerns a criminal conviction following a completed trial. The allegations were denied by Graeme Dott during the proceedings, and the conviction was reached by a jury at the High Court in Glasgow.
