Former World Snooker Champion Graeme Dott on Trial for Child Sex Abuse Charges

A former world snooker champion has gone on trial at the High Court in Glasgow over child sex abuse charges. Graeme Dott, 49, is accused of lewd and libidinous behaviour towards two youngsters, a girl and a boy, between 1993 and 2010. The alleged incidents are said to have occurred on "various occasions" and involved addresses in Glasgow's east end and South Lanarkshire as well as in a car. Dott, who won the world title in 2006, has denied the charges against him. The allegation involving a girl includes claims he inappropriately touched her, instructed her to remove her clothes and exposed himself. In the claims surrounding the separate abuse of a boy, Dott is said to have made sexual remarks, entered a bathroom and watched him shower and also molested him. The female witness, who is now in her 40s, claimed the first incident occurred when she was nine or 10 at a house in Glasgow. She had initially been in a room with other youngsters when Dott came in. She eventually wanted to go downstairs and Dott allegedly offered her a piggy-back or "coaksey", which she agreed to. The woman then recalled: "He carried me down the stairs and we got to the bottom of the landing. There was a hall window that looks out onto the street. He stopped. He started caressing my backside with his hands." The witness said this was while her legs were wrapped around him.