What's happened
A 49-year-old snooker player has been found guilty of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour toward a girl and a boy in cases spanning 1993-1996 and 2006-2010 in the Glasgow area. He faces sentencing on Sept. 29 after a five-day High Court trial.
What's behind the headline?
Key angles to watch
- Direct quotes from victims and prosecutors illustrate the severity of the conduct.
- The verdicts come after a five-day trial and follow Dott’s earlier suspension by the governing body.
- Local impact centers on Glasgow and wider Scottish sport's safeguarding reputation.
Questions for readers
- How should sports bodies handle past misconduct when a high-profile figure is involved?
- What protections exist for vulnerable witnesses in long-running cases?
- What sentencing options will the court consider on Sept. 29?
How we got here
The case centers on Graeme Dott, a former World Snooker Champion (2006) who was suspended by the snooker governing body in 2025 pending charges. The verdict covers abuse incidents against two victims in Scotland, with the trial heard in Glasgow's High Court.
Our analysis
AP News reports that Dott was found guilty of two counts of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour toward a girl and a boy, with the abuse occurring in the Glasgow area. The Independent and The Guardian provide detailed testimonies from victims, including abuse in showers and in cars, and note the 2025 suspension by the snooker governing body. The Scotsman cites the same trial timeline and notes the defendant’s prior acclaim in 2006 as World Snooker Champion.
Go deeper
- Will Dott face additional charges or appeals after sentencing?
- What safeguarding reforms are Scottish sports bodies pursuing in response to this case?
- How are victims supported during and after the trial?
More on these topics
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Glasgow - City in Scotland
Glasgow is the most populous city in Scotland, and the third most populous city in the United Kingdom, as of the 2019 estimated city population of 611,748.
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Graeme Dott - Scottish snooker player
Graeme Dott is a Scottish professional snooker player and snooker coach from Larkhall. He turned professional in 1994 and first entered the top 16 in 2001.
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World Snooker Championship - Sports league championship
The World Snooker Championship is the leading snooker tournament both in terms of prestige and prize money. The first championship was held in 1927 and was won by Joe Davis.
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Scotland - Country of the United Kingdom
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a 96 mile border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and w