Graeme Dott, Former World Snooker Champion, Sentenced to Seven Years for Child Sexual Abuse

Graeme Dott, the Scottish snooker player who reached the pinnacle of his sport by winning the world championship in 2006, has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing two children over a period spanning nearly two decades. The 49-year-old was handed the sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh, bringing to a close a case that has shocked the snooker world and highlighted the long-delayed pursuit of justice in historical abuse cases.

Lord Harrower, the presiding judge, told the court that Dott had deprived his victims of "a significant part of their childhood" and that his conduct displayed the classic characteristics of grooming. The judge emphasised that both victims were vulnerable not only because of their young age but also for reasons beyond it, though he did not elaborate further in open court. Dott, he said, had tried to mask his abuse as innocent games and had rewarded the children with treats to secure their silence and compliance.

The former champion had consistently denied two charges of lewd and libidinous behaviour towards a girl and a boy, offences alleged to have occurred between 1993 and 2010. A trial at the High Court in Glasgow ended with a guilty verdict, and Dott returned to the Edinburgh court for sentencing. He showed no visible reaction as the seven-year term was announced, offering only a brief nod toward an individual in the public gallery before being led away by security staff.

According to details laid out during the trial, Dott was himself only 16 or 17 years old when he began abusing the first victim, a girl who was roughly nine years old when the ordeal started. His abuse of the second victim, a boy aged about eight, began around a decade later. The court heard that Dott warned both children they would not be believed if they ever disclosed what he had done to them—a common tactic used by abusers to maintain control over their victims and delay reporting.

Lord Harrower noted that the victims had been left grappling with "overwhelming emotions of fear, shame and anger" as a direct consequence of the abuse, with the psychological damage continuing well into their adult lives. He described Dott's conduct as "a gross violation of trust," underscoring the severity of the offences and the lasting harm inflicted on two young people who had trusted him. Throughout the judge's remarks, Dott repeatedly shook his head, appearing to dispute the characterisation of his actions.

The court also considered a social work report that assessed Dott as posing a "below average risk of reoffending." However, because Dott continues to maintain his innocence, Lord Harrower stated he could not factor any expression of remorse into the sentence. This lack of acknowledgment, the judge implied, left the court with little choice but to impose a custodial term that reflected the gravity of the crimes rather than any mitigation that might have come with a guilty plea or admission of responsibility.

During the trial, the court heard graphic testimony from the female victim, now a woman in her forties. She described how Dott had "caressed" her bottom while giving her a piggyback ride and how, on a separate occasion, he had exposed himself to her. She also recounted an incident in which Dott suggested she "take her trousers down" and then lifted her top and kissed her stomach after asking if she wanted to "play a guessing game." The victim told the court that Dott would kiss her, touch her inappropriately, and carry out a sexual act that, if committed under current law, would amount to rape.

The woman also testified about sensory details that had stayed with her for decades, including the "smell" of creams Dott used to treat a skin condition after he kissed her. She said his actions left her feeling "shocked and scared." In the course of the abuse, the court heard, Dott bought her a teddy bear decorated with a love heart—a gift that prosecutors portrayed as part of a broader pattern of manipulation and reward designed to normalise the abuse and discourage disclosure.

The case has a lengthy and troubling pre-history. Police first contacted Dott about the allegations in 2001, but no charges were brought at that time. It was only in 2025, when the female victim gave a new statement to police, that the investigation was reopened and ultimately led to prosecution. The gap of more than two decades between the initial contact and the eventual conviction illustrates the difficulties victims face in coming forward and the persistence required to bring historical abuse cases to court.

In mitigation, Euan Dow, representing Dott, told the court that his client is now separated from his wife but "continues to enjoy the support of his family and friends." He added that Dott suffers from "long-standing mental health issues" and that both his personal and professional reputations had been destroyed. The court also heard that Dott had already been the subject of threats while in prison, leading authorities to move him to a different jail for his own safety—a detail that underscores the notoriety his conviction has brought.

The sentence of seven years has been backdated to 24 August, the date Dott was remanded in custody following his conviction, meaning the period he has already spent in detention will count toward his overall term. In addition to the prison sentence, Dott will remain on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life, a lifelong restriction that reflects the seriousness with which the courts treat sexual offences against children.

Faye Cook, a Procurator Fiscal at the Crown Office, welcomed the outcome and issued a statement emphasising that Dott's public success stood in stark contrast to his private conduct. "Graeme Dott achieved success and public admiration but, in private, he exploited the trust of two children to abuse and coerce them," she said. "Dott's criminal behaviour has been his downfall and he now faces the consequences of his actions." She added that "justice has no time limit" and urged any victims of historical abuse to come forward and report it, regardless of how much time has passed.

The conviction marks a dramatic fall from grace for a figure once celebrated as one of Scotland's most accomplished snooker players. Dott's 2006 world title was the high point of a career that also saw him reach the final of the World Championship on two other occasions and become a well-known figure in British sport. His name, once associated with sporting excellence, will now be permanently linked to the abuse of two children and the long-delayed reckoning that followed.

The case also raises broader questions about how institutions and authorities respond to allegations of abuse, particularly when the accused is a prominent public figure. The fact that police were aware of allegations as far back as 2001 but did not bring charges at that time will likely prompt scrutiny of how such complaints were handled. For the victims, however, the sentencing represents at least a measure of accountability after years of carrying the weight of what happened to them in silence.

Lord Harrower's decision to impose a seven-year term, backdated to August, ensures that Dott will serve a substantial period behind bars before any possibility of release. With his lifelong placement on the sex offenders register and the judge's unambiguous condemnation of his conduct, the case sends a clear message that historical sexual abuse will be pursued and punished, no matter how much time has elapsed or how high the perpetrator's public profile may once have been.