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Former world Scottish snooker champion Graeme Dott has been sentenced to seven years in prison for the sexual abuse of two children. The sentencing took place at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday, September 29.
Dott was found guilty of the crimes, which involved molesting a girl and a boy at different times. The charges concerning the girl date back to incidents from 1993 to 1996, while the abuse of the boy took place between 2006 and 2010 in the Glasgow region, as reported.
The trial included testimony from one of the victims, a woman now in her 40s. She described incidents where Dott allegedly touched her inappropriately and exposed himself. One incident recounted involved Dott suggesting a “guessing game” before he exposed himself and initiated inappropriate contact.
The second victim, a man now in his late 20s, testified that he was also subjected to abuse on multiple occasions. He detailed incidents that occurred during showers, where he claimed Dott would wash him while engaging in inappropriate acts. He stated that Dott would come into the shower either partially or fully undressed.
In delivering the sentence, Judge Lord Harrower remarked that Dott had “robbed the complainers of a significant part of their childhood” and characterised the behaviour as a “gross violation of trust.”
Dott, who became a professional snooker player in 1994 and won the World Snooker Championship in 2006, had his name removed from the World Snooker Hall of Fame following his conviction.
Faye Cook, Procurator Fiscal of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), stated that Dott had exploited the trust of the children to commit abuse, adding that the consequences of his actions had finally caught up with him. Cook emphasised the importance of reporting historical abuse, recognising the difficulties victims may face when coming forward, particularly against figures of authority.
The court’s outcomes highlight the serious nature of the offences and underscore the commitment of legal authorities to address such crimes.
