Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott jailed for child sexual abuse

Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott has received a prison sentence of seven years after being found guilty of child sexual abuse. The 49-year-old Scot, who won the world title in 2006, was convicted of two charges of lewd and libidinous behavior involving a girl and a boy, with the offenses occurring between 1993 and 2010. The trial took place at the High Court in Glasgow, where Dott maintained his innocence but was nonetheless convicted.

During sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Lord Harrower emphasized the deep impact of Dott’s actions on his victims, stating that Dott had taken away “a significant part of their childhood” and highlighting the grooming nature of his conduct. The judge noted that the victims were vulnerable beyond just their ages, and that Dott manipulated them by offering treats and disguising abuse as a game. The girl, approximately nine years old when the abuse began, was victimized when Dott was around 16 or 17. Abuse of the boy started roughly a decade later, when he was about eight years old.

The court heard distressing details of the abuse: Dott exposed himself and inappropriately touched the female victim during the 1990s, while the male victim was molested multiple times between 2006 and 2010, including incidents occurring in a shower and a car. The boy described being rewarded with snacks and money, only to be accused of theft afterward. The female victim recounted specific incidents where Dott kissed and touched her inappropriately, actions that left her feeling “shocked and scared.” Both victims were warned by Dott not to disclose the abuse or they would not be believed.

Dott showed no visible emotion while being sentenced, only nodding towards someone in the courtroom gallery as he was taken away. Social work reports indicated that he poses a below-average risk of reoffending; however, Lord Harrower noted that because Dott denies the charges, no remorse could be considered in mitigation. His defense counsel revealed that Dott is now separated from his wife but maintains support from family and friends and suffers from long-standing mental health issues. Since his remand in custody on 24 August, the sentence has been backdated accordingly, and Dott will remain on the sex offenders register for life. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association has permanently revoked his membership, following earlier suspension and removal from the professional rankings

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