Glasgow court convicts former snooker world champion Graeme Dott of historical child abuse
The 49-year-old was found guilty of two counts of lewd, indecent, and libidinous behaviour spanning the 1990s and 2000s, a verdict Police Scotland says should offer some comfort to those affected.
Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott has been found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of sexually abusing two children over a period of several decades. The 49-year-old was convicted on Monday following a trial that examined allegations of misconduct dating back to the early 1990s.
Dott was charged with two counts of “lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour.” The first count related to a girl between 1993 and 1996, while the second concerned a boy between 2006 and 2010. Although Dott denied the charges, the jury returned a guilty verdict on both counts.
The indictment detailed specific acts of alleged misconduct. It stated that Dott had sexually assaulted the girl, exposed himself to her, and induced her to touch him. Regarding the boy, the court heard that Dott made sexual remarks and touched his genitals.
Detective Inspector Gary Smillie of Police Scotland addressed the media following the verdict, characterising Dott as a “dangerous individual.” Smillie noted that the conviction should provide some measure of comfort to those impacted by the crimes.
The case has also had institutional implications for the sport. Dott was suspended by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association after the charges were announced last year. He remains a prominent figure in the game, having won the world snooker championship in 2006 by defeating Peter Ebdon 18-14 in the final.
Dott also finished as runner-up in the world championship in both 2004 and 2010. His sentencing is scheduled to take place next month, where the court will determine the appropriate penalty for the convictions.
