By Dwayne Ferreira.
Graeme Dott trial begins in Glasgow as the former world snooker champion denies two historical child sexual abuse charges.
GLASGOW, Scotland — The Graeme Dott trial has begun at the High Court in Glasgow, where the former world snooker champion faces historical child sexual abuse allegations involving two children.
Dott, 49, has pleaded not guilty to both charges and firmly denies the allegations.
Prosecutors allege that one charge relates to a girl and incidents said to have taken place between 1993 and 1996 in the Glasgow area. The second concerns a boy and alleged incidents between 2006 and 2010 at a property and inside a car in South Lanarkshire.
Both children were of primary school age during the periods covered by the charges.
Woman Gives Evidence in Graeme Dott Trial
Jurors heard evidence from the female complainant, now in her 40s, who said the alleged abuse began while she was still at primary school.
She described several alleged incidents involving Dott and told the court that the behaviour happened more than once.
The woman also alleged that Dott exposed himself during one incident and induced her to briefly engage in a sexual act. She said she became frightened and began crying.
She later told a friend about the allegations as a teenager and eventually spoke to members of her family.
Following advice from a secondary-school guidance teacher, she reported the matter to police in 2001.
However, she told jurors she could not recall hearing from police again until officers arrived at her home 23 years later, in November 2024.
She described their appearance as a “complete shock.”
Dott became world snooker champion in 2006 after defeating Peter Ebdon 18-14 at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.
The WPBSA suspended him in April 2025 after the charges were announced.
The trial is continuing before Lord Harrower.
No verdict has been reached, and the allegations against Dott remain unproven unless established by the court.
