Former Snooker World Champion Graeme Dott Jailed for Child Sexual Abuse
Former snooker world champion Graeme Dott was sentenced to seven years in prison on September 29 at the High Court in Edinburgh after being convicted of historical sexual abuse against two children in Scotland between 1993 and 2010. British media outlets reported that the 49-year-old professional athlete denied the charges but was found guilty following a trial.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh
Graeme Dott appeared before Lord Harrower at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday, September 29, where the judge imposed a backdated seven-year prison sentence. According to coverage from Reuters, the trial took place at Glasgow High Court in August, resulting in a majority verdict convicting Dott of two counts of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour. Prosecutor statements and court records cited by Reuters detailed that the offences involved a girl and a boy targeted over a seventeen-year span starting when Dott was himself 16 or 17 years old.
Lord Harrower stated during sentencing that Dott’s actions represented a gross violation of trust that carried the hallmarks of grooming, adding that the defendant had robbed the victims of a significant part of their childhood. Following the conviction, the court ordered Dott to be placed on the sex offender register indefinitely. Defence counsel Euan Dow told the court in mitigation that his client faced longstanding mental health issues and that his professional reputation had been completely destroyed.
Professional Career Fallout and Governing Body Sanctions
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association initially suspended Dott when charges were formally announced in 2025. Following his conviction, the association permanently revoked his membership and removed his name from the organization’s hall of fame.
Dott turned professional in 1994 and reached the pinnacle of the sport in 2006, when he defeated Peter Ebdon 18-14 in a gruelling final to win the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield. In addition to his 2006 world title, Dott finished as the tournament runner-up on two separate occasions, losing to Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2004 and to Neil Robertson in 2010.
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