Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott sentenced to seven years in prison for child sexual abuse

Sentencing in Edinburgh

The High Court in Edinburgh sentenced former world snooker champion Graeme Dott to seven years in prison on Tuesday for sexually abusing two primary school children. Judge Lord Harrower imposed the term with retroactive effect to 24 August 2026, the date the 49-year-old Scot was remanded in custody following his conviction. Dott was also placed on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life. The sentencing followed a five-day jury trial at the High Court in Glasgow in August, where Dott was found guilty of two counts of lewd, indecent, and libidinous behaviour.

Details of the offences and trial

The offences spanned almost two decades between 1993 and 2010 across the Glasgow area and South Lanarkshire. The first victim, who is now in her 40s, was about nine years old when Dott, then aged 16 or 17, began abusing her between 1993 and 1996. Police had contacted Dott regarding those allegations in 2001, though no formal charges were filed at that time. The second victim, now a man in his 20s, testified that his abuse began shortly after Dott won his world title in 2006. The boy was about eight years old when Dott molested him in a shower, in a car, and while playing online poker. The court heard that Dott gave the boy crisps, fizzy drinks, and a £50 note, before later accusing him of theft when family members discovered the cash.

Legal findings and court statements

Lord Harrower told Dott that his conduct displayed the classic hallmarks of grooming and constituted a gross violation of trust against two vulnerable children. The judge noted that Dott had disguised abusive acts as games and warned his victims that they would not be believed if they spoke out. Social work assessments categorized Dott as posing a below-average risk of reoffending, but his continued insistence on his innocence prevented the court from considering remorse during sentencing. Defense counsel Euan Dow stated that Dott suffered from longstanding mental health issues, was separated from his wife, and had been transferred between prisons following safety threats. Following the hearing, Crown Office prosecutor Faye Cook addressed the contrast between Dott's public career and private conduct.

Graeme Dott achieved success and public admiration but, in private, he exploited the trust of two children to abuse and coerce them.

Sanctions and career impact

The conviction ended Dott's professional career in snooker, where his primary achievement was winning the 2006 World Championship at the Crucible Theatre against Peter Ebdon. Dott also finished as runner-up in 2004 and 2010, reaching a career-high world ranking of second in the 2007/2008 season. Governing body World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association had initially suspended Dott on 9 April 2025 after criminal charges were filed. Following the August guilty verdict, the association permanently revoked his membership and removed his name from the World Snooker Hall of Fame. Court records also disclosed two previous minor road traffic convictions from 2013 and 2015.