Nigerian Journal Sustainability Research

Graeme Dott Trial: Ex-Snooker Champion Calls Abuse Allegations 'Disgusting' as He Denies Charges

2026-08-20
The Charges He Faces

Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott, 49, is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow accused of two charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour toward two children who were both around primary school age at the time of the alleged offences. The first charge involves a girl and spans 1993 to 1996 in the Glasgow region; the second involves a boy and spans 2006 to 2010, with alleged incidents at a property and in a vehicle in South Lanarkshire. Dott, who won the World Snooker Championship in 2006 and was runner-up in 2004 and 2010, has pleaded not guilty to both charges. The trial is being heard before Lord Harrower and was expected to last around five days.

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association suspended Dott from competition when the case first became public, saying it would be inappropriate to comment further while proceedings remain ongoing.

What the Complainants Told the Court

Both alleged victims gave evidence during the trial, with the woman involved in the first charge, now in her 40s, testifying from behind a screen. She told the court the alleged abuse began during her primary school years and described it as occurring on multiple separate occasions. She said she eventually confided in a friend as a teenager, then told family members, and made a formal report to police in 2001 on the advice of a school guidance teacher, though she said she heard nothing further until police contacted her again in November 2024, 23 years later.

The second complainant, now an adult man, testified that the alleged abuse involving him began around the time Dott held the world championship title. Under questioning from advocate depute Lindsey Dalziel, he told the court that instances of alleged abuse occurred at various points during that period.

Dott's Testimony and Denial

Taking the stand in his own defence, Dott denied carrying out any of the alleged abuse. Questioned by his lawyer Euan Dow about the first complainant, he said there was "absolutely no way" he had touched her inappropriately. Under cross-examination by prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel, when asked whether he had ever been attracted to the girl when she was young, Dott called the suggestion "disgusting." When it was put to him that he had touched the complainant and directed her actions, he denied the allegation outright, describing it as "lies."

Regarding the second complainant, Dott said he was "never in my company" with the boy and denied all allegations connected to that charge. He was also questioned about specifics raised earlier in the trial, including a claim from the first complainant that she could smell a particular skin cream on him during an alleged incident; Dott said he used E45 cream for eczema and stated it is specifically odourless, denying the cream had any smell. He also said he had never kissed her.

Where the Case Stands

As of the most recent reporting, the trial was ongoing, with Dott having completed testimony in his own defence following the evidence presented by both complainants. The allegations against him remain unproven unless and until the jury returns a verdict, and the case continues before Lord Harrower at the High Court in Glasgow.

Sources