Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott was convicted of sexually abusing two children following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow, according to reports dated August 24, 2026.

A jury found Dott guilty by majority verdicts of two counts of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour. The five-day trial began on August 18 and concerned repeated abuse of a girl between 1993 and 1996 and a boy between 2006 and 2010. Both were of primary-school age at the time, and the incidents took place in the Glasgow area.

Dott, who was 49 at the time of the verdict, denied all allegations. While giving evidence, he said there was “absolutely no way” he had sexually abused the children. When prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel challenged him about the first complainant’s account, he called the allegations “lies” and described the suggestion that he had been attracted to her as “disgusting.” He also denied that the second complainant had been in his company.

The woman, who was in her 40s by the time of the trial, told jurors that Dott abused her on several occasions during childhood. Her evidence included allegations that he touched her over her clothes, exposed himself and instructed her not to disclose what had happened.

The second complainant, a man then in his late 20s, testified that Dott touched and kissed him and committed sexual acts during multiple encounters. He described incidents in a shower and a car, telling the court that his age had prevented him from understanding the conduct at the time and that he only later recognized it as wrong.

Dalziel argued in her closing address that Dott had exploited opportunities to abuse vulnerable children for his own gratification. Defence lawyer Euan Dow asked the jury to acquit him on both charges.

Sentencing deferred

Judge Lord Harrower postponed sentencing until September 29 at the High Court in Edinburgh so that a social-work background report could be prepared and the available sentencing options considered. He ordered Dott to provide his name and address to police for inclusion on the sex offenders register. Dott was remanded in custody.

Detective Inspector Gary Smillie of Police Scotland described Dott as dangerous and expressed hope that the conviction would offer some comfort to those affected.

Dott won the World Snooker Championship in 2006, defeating Peter Ebdon 18-14 in the final. He was runner-up in 2004 and 2010. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association suspended him after the charges were announced the previous year. The suspension imposed by the sport’s governing body had followed the announcement of the charges in the previous year.