Ex-world snooker champion Graeme Dott in court accused of child sex abuse

A former world snooker champion has gone on trial accused of historical child sex abuse.

Warning: This article contains details of child sexual abuse.

Graeme Dott, 49, is accused of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards two children.

The allegations span between 1993 and 1996 involving a girl, and 2006 to 2010 involving a boy.

Both charges state the alleged abuse occurred on "various occasions". They include claims Dott inappropriately touched and molested the children.

The girl is said to have been targeted in the Glasgow region while the allegations involving the boy are said to have taken place at a property and within a car in South Lanarkshire.

Dott has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The female complainant, who is now in her 40s, told jurors she was of primary school age at the time the alleged abuse began.

She said one of her first memories of the alleged abuse was when Dott started to "caress" her buttocks over her clothing during an indoor piggyback ride.

She told Advocate Depute Lindsey Dalziel: "I remember it was odd to me. I think he said 'does that feel nice' or something. I can't really recall."

The witness was asked about another alleged incident.

She said of Dott: "He came in and he was saying 'we could play a game'.

"He told me that it would be a guessing game and I would have to guess what he was doing."

The woman said Dott removed her trousers, lifted her top and kissed her stomach during the alleged incident.

She told the court her eyes were open and closed during the "game", before providing more details of the alleged sexual abuse.

The woman said the "guessing game" took place "more than once".

She also told the court of another alleged incident in which she claimed Dott exposed himself and induced her to briefly engage in a sex act.

The witness said she was "shocked, scared", before later adding: "I wanted to do what he was asking me to do because I didn't want to upset him or anything like that."

The alleged incident was said to have come to an end after she "started to cry".

When asked by the prosecutor how Dott behaved towards her during the time of the alleged abuse, the complainer said: "He bought me a couple of toys."

She described one teddy which reportedly had a love heart on it that said "love me".

The alleged abuse was said to have ended while she was still in primary school.

The woman said she eventually confided in a friend when she was a teenager and then went on to tell family members.

On the advice of a guidance teacher at secondary school, the woman said she made a report to the police in 2001.

She told the court she could not remember the police coming back to her about her initial statement until they knocked on her door 23 years later in November 2024.

She said: "It was a complete shock."

Dott turned professional in 1994 and went on to win the World Snooker Championship in 2006, defeating Peter Ebdon in the final at the Crucible in Sheffield.

He also reached the final in both 2004, when he was beaten by Ronnie O'Sullivan, and 2010, losing out to Australian Neil Robertson.

Dott was suspended from competition by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) when the court charges were announced in April 2025.

The trial, before Lord Harrower, continues.

(c) Sky News 2026: Ex-world snooker champion Graeme Dott in court accused of child sex abuse