Graeme Dott Found Guilty of Child Sexual Abuse Following Glasgow Trial

Verdict Delivered After Five-Day High Court Hearing

Former World Snooker Champion Graeme Dott has been found guilty of child sexual abuse following a five-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow. The 49-year-old Scot was convicted on two charges of lewd and libidinous behaviour involving a girl and a boy, covering a period between 1993 and 2010. Dott denied both charges throughout proceedings and had previously described the allegations as "disgusting." Court reports indicate that Dott covered his face with his hands and shook his head as the guilty verdicts were delivered. He is due to be sentenced at a separate hearing in Edinburgh on 29 September.

Details of the Two Charges

The first charge related to a girl of primary school age, with the alleged incidents occurring between 1993 and 1996. The court heard that Dott had inappropriately touched her whilst giving her a piggyback and had exposed himself to her on a separate occasion. The woman, now in her 40s, provided a fresh statement to police in 2025. Notably, police had made contact with Dott regarding these allegations as far back as 2001, though no charges were brought at that time.

The second charge concerned a boy and covered alleged incidents between 2006 and 2010. The court heard evidence that Dott had made sexual remarks to the boy, watched him whilst he showered, and subjected him to molestation on a number of occasions. The boy also told the court that abuse had taken place in a car on multiple occasions.

WPBSA Acts Following Conviction

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association had already suspended Dott from competition when the charges were formally announced in April 2025. Following Tuesday's guilty verdicts, the WPBSA moved swiftly, releasing a statement confirming that it had permanently revoked Dott's WPBSA membership with immediate effect. That decision brings a definitive end to a professional career that spanned more than three decades on the World Snooker Tour.

A Career That Reached the Sport's Highest Level

The verdicts arrive in stark contrast to what had been, on the surface, one of the more decorated careers in modern professional snooker. Dott turned professional in 1994 and went on to reach three World Championship finals at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield — a record that places him among an elite group of players from his era.

His first Crucible final appearance came in 2004, where he was defeated by Ronnie O'Sullivan. Two years later, in 2006, Dott claimed the sport's most prestigious title, defeating Peter Ebdon 18-14 in the final, having also overcome O'Sullivan in the semi-finals during that same tournament. He returned to the Sheffield final in 2010 but was beaten 18-13 by Neil Robertson of Australia. Beyond the World Championship, Dott also claimed the 2007 China Open title in Beijing, defeating Jamie Cope 9-5 in the final — a result that contributed to him reaching a career-high ranking of world number two, according to data held on CueTracker.

End of a Professional Career Under the Gravest of Circumstances

Dott remained active on the professional tour for well over 30 years, a longevity that in itself spoke to his consistency and durability at the highest level. However, the circumstances surrounding his exit from the sport could hardly be more serious. The WPBSA's decision to permanently revoke his membership — rather than maintain the temporary suspension issued in April 2025 — reflects the gravity of the convictions recorded against him at the High Court in Glasgow.

Sentencing will take place in Edinburgh on 29 September, at which point the full legal consequences of Tuesday's verdict will be determined.