In a stark fall from grace, former World Snooker Champion Graeme Dott has been sentenced to seven years in prison following his conviction for historical sexual abuse.
High court verdict and sentencing
The 49-year-old Scottish cueist was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow after being found guilty on two counts of lewd, indecent and libidinous behavior targeting two primary school-aged victims – a boy and a girl.
The court heard testimony detailing multiple incidents of abuse with High Court Judge Lord Harrower telling Dott that his actions had “robbed the complainers of a significant part of their childhood.”
Dott denied the allegations throughout the trial but the jury delivered a guilty verdict.
Impact on snooker legacy
Following the court’s verdict, governing bodies moved quickly to distance the sport from the former champion. The World Snooker Tour (WST) issued an official statement confirming Dott’s immediate removal from the World Snooker Tour Hall of Fame.
Dott, who captured the world title at the Crucible in 2006 by defeating Peter Ebdon, has also been formally added to the sex offenders register.
Lord Harrower remanded him directly into custody to begin serving his seven-year prison term.
