A former world snooker champion Graeme Dott has been sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually abusing two children. 

The 49-year-old was sentenced on Tuesday at the High Court in Edinburgh by Lord Harrower after his conviction following a five-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow in August, where he was found guilty of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards two primary school pupils. 

The cases involved a girl between 1993 and 1996 in Glasgow and a boy in South Lanarkshire from 2006 to 2010. 

The girl, now in her 40s, recalled the incident, saying he caressed her backside over her clothing in an indoor piggy/back ride. She also told jurors of being abused during a guessing game, which occurred more than once.

She said, “I wanted to do what he was asking me to do because I didn’t want to upset him or anything like that.”

The male victim in his 20s told jurors that his behaviour was aggressive, saying, “Looking back, he knew what he wanted me to do. He expected nothing but compliance.”

Both victims acknowledged that they both received gifts from Mr Dotts.

The judge said the sportsman robbed the children of a significant part of their childhood after he offered the victims treats when he was a teenager, disguising his abuse as being part of a game.

The judge said the “gross violation of trust” would affect the children’s mental health into adulthood. 

Mr Dott’s lawyer, Euan Dow, said that his client maintained his innocence, as his personal and professional life had been ruined due to the allegations.

Mr Dow added that the sportsman also suffered from “long-standing mental health issues,” and he had received threats in jail due to his charges.

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association also permanently revoked his membership following his conviction in August, after his suspension from professional snooker activities in 2025.

In 2013 and 2015, before his current conviction, he was previously convicted of minor road traffic offences.