Ex-world snooker champion Graeme Dott jailed for child sex abuse

Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott has been jailed for seven years for historical child sex abuse.

Warning: This article contains details of child sexual abuse.

The shamed sportsman denied any wrongdoing but was last month found guilty of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards two primary school-aged children.

The allegations spanned between 1993 and 1996 involving a girl in Glasgow, and 2006 to 2010 involving a boy in South Lanarkshire.

Dott, 49, was sentenced by Lord Harrower at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday.

The judge stated Dott robbed his victims of "a significant part of their childhood", adding: "Your behaviour towards them bore the classic hallmarks of grooming."

Defence lawyer Euan Dow told the court that his client continues to maintain his innocence and noted "both his personal and professional reputations have been destroyed" due to the charges.

Mr Dow said Dott had "received threats" in jail and had been moved to another section as a result of becoming "a target within the custodial establishment".

During Dott's trial at the High Court in Glasgow, jurors heard how he repeatedly molested his two victims.

This included inducing the girl to briefly engage in a sex act, which came to an end when she "started to cry", and sexually abusing the boy while the youngster was in a shower.

The female victim, who is now in her 40s, recalled one incident in which Dott started to "caress" her buttocks over her clothing during an indoor piggyback ride.

The woman also told jurors of being sexually abused during a "guessing game", which was said to have taken place more than once during which she would have to close her eyes and "guess" what Dott was doing.

The woman told the court: "I wanted to do what he was asking me to do because I didn't want to upset him or anything like that."

Jurors heard how the woman confided in a friend when she was a teenager and then went on to tell family members and a guidance teacher at secondary school.

She made a report to the police in 2001, but the complaint went nowhere until officers knocked on her door 23 years later in November 2024 in light of allegations made by the second victim.

Dott was world snooker champion when his abuse of the boy began.

The man, who is now in his late-20s, described Dott's demeanour as "aggressive", telling jurors: "Looking back, he knew what he wanted me to do."

He added: "He expected nothing but compliance."

Both victims told the court they received gifts from Dott at the time of his abuse.

The woman said she was once given a teddy, which had a love heart on it that read "love me".

The man said he was gifted snacks and treats - including a £50 note - as a "reward strategy" and, as a result, now has an aversion to Thai chilli crisps, Irn-Bru and Dove soap.

The victim said the smell of Dove now gives him "PTSD flashbacks".

Dott refuted the pair's claims, branding the allegations "disgusting".

He told the jurors: "I've never acted inappropriately towards anybody."

Referring to the girl as Jane and the boy as Kevin, both pseudonyms, Lord Harrower noted: "In both cases the abuse included penetrative sexual activity and, in the case of Jane, behaviour that would now be classed as rape."

The judge said Dott "rewarded" his victims with treats or warned them that they wouldn't be believed if they told anyone.

More from the trial:
Snooker champion sex abuse trial begins
Woman denies saying 'I'm going to be rich'
Dott brands allegations 'disgusting'

He added: "You disguised your abuse as part of a game or personal care.

"Of course, at the time of your offending against Jane, you yourself were still a child. However, by the time you began abusing Kevin, you were a married man in your 30s, with a family of your own.

"Your behaviour towards both children involved a gross violation of trust."

Dott, who was said to have "long-standing mental health issues", continues to maintain his innocence.

Defence lawyer Mr Dow told the judge that his client was separated from his wife, but he continues to receive her support as well as from family and friends.

Lord Harrower stated: "You continue to maintain your innocence, which is of course your right.

"However, it also means that I am unable to take account of any remorse on your part, or any insight into the harm you inflicted."

Dott turned professional in 1994 and went on to win the World Snooker Championship in 2006, defeating Peter Ebdon in the final at the Crucible in Sheffield.

He also reached the final in both 2004, when he was beaten by Ronnie O'Sullivan, and 2010, losing out to Australian Neil Robertson.

Dott was suspended from competition by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) when the court charges were announced in April 2025.

Following his conviction, his membership was "permanently revoked" and he was additionally removed from World Snooker Tour's hall of fame.

As well as the seven year jail term, Dott was also placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

Procurator Fiscal Faye Cook, of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: "Graeme Dott achieved success and public admiration but, in private, he exploited the trust of two children to abuse and coerce them.

"Dott's criminal behaviour has been his downfall, and he now faces the consequences of his actions.

"At the heart of his offending are victims who were harmed when very young and we are grateful that they felt able to report their experiences.

"COPFS recognises it can be difficult to report non-recent offending, perhaps even more so by figures who have authority or profile.

"But we will take all reports seriously, we will listen and we will prosecute robustly wherever possible. Justice has no time limit."

(c) Sky News 2026: Ex-world snooker champion Graeme Dott jailed for child sex abuse