Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott has been found guilty of sexually abusing two children over a period spanning almost two decades.

Following a five-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow, the 49-year-old was convicted of two counts of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour towards a girl and a boy who were of primary school age at the time of the offences. The abuse took place in the Glasgow area between 1993 and 2010.

The court heard evidence that Dott exposed himself to both children, subjected them to inappropriate sexual contact, and carried out repeated acts of abuse. Both victims, now adults, gave evidence during the trial about the impact of what they experienced as children.

One victim told the court that the abuse began when she was a child and escalated over time. The second victim described multiple incidents of abuse and explained that, because of his age, he did not fully understand what was happening at the time, only later recognising that the behaviour was wrong.

Throughout the trial, Dott denied the allegations against him. However, the jury returned guilty verdicts on both charges.

Following the verdict, Judge Lord Harrower deferred sentencing until 29 September while a background report is prepared. Dott was remanded in custody and ordered to comply with sex offender registration requirements in the meantime.

The importance of speaking out

Cases such as this highlight a reality often seen in child sexual abuse claims: many survivors do not disclose their experiences until years, or even decades, after the abuse occurred.

Children who experience abuse may not fully understand what has happened to them at the time, may fear they will not be believed, or may have been manipulated into keeping the abuse secret. As adults, survivors often come to recognise the lasting impact the abuse has had on their mental health, relationships, education, and wider life experiences.

Find out how Switalskis can help you

Every survivor of abuse deserves justice. That means holding perpetrators fully accountable, and it also means ensuring survivors are supported to reclaim their voice, rebuild their sense of control, and pursue the compensation they are entitled to for the harm they have suffered.

At Switalskis, our specialist abuse lawyers have decades of experience in representing survivors of child sexual exploitation. We understand that such cases are very emotional for clients and often legally complex, therefore we are dedicated to providing a supportive and professional environment in which our clients can feel confident in our services. We are committed to ensuring our clients receive the compensation they deserve.

If you have been impacted and would like to discuss your experience in confidence, our specialist abuse team   can help. Call 0800 1380 458  or email help@switalskis.com.