Former snooker world champion Graeme Dott subjected vulnerable children to the worst kind of abuse over multiple years, prosecutors told a jury at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, August 21, 2026. The 49-year-old athlete denies two charges of lewd, indecent, and libidinous behaviour involving two primary school-age children in the Glasgow area, according to court reports from BBC News, Sky News, and The Mirror.
Prosecution Closing Arguments in Glasgow High Court
Addressing jurors on Friday, advocate depute Lindsey Dalziel urged the panel to convict Dott on both counts, stating that the evidence detailed a course of conduct that relied on opportunity for personal gratification. According to Sky News and The Mirror, the first allegation involves a female complainant and spans the period between 1993 and 1996. The second allegation involves a male complainant and spans the period between 2006 and 2010.
Ms. Dalziel told the court that the evidence presented during the trial included very real and graphic details of childhood sexual abuse. As reported by BBC News and BreakingNews.ie, the prosecutor highlighted significant similarities between the independent accounts provided by both complainants, noting that they came forward at different times.
“The Crown’s case is that Graeme Dott subjected vulnerable children to the worst kind of abuse with a course of conduct which relied on opportunity, for his own gratification,” Ms. Dalziel stated, according to reporting by The Mirror.
Details of Complainants’ Testimony and Evidence
During the closing speeches, prosecutors pointed to specific elements of the testimony given by both alleged victims to establish their credibility. According to The Mirror, the first complainant told the court that the alleged abuse began when Dott caressed her bottom over her clothing while giving her a piggyback ride as a child.
Ms. Dalziel noted that this witness offered precise sensory details about what she felt, smelled, and experienced during the alleged incidents. The prosecutor argued that natural variations in statements the woman gave when she first reported the matter demonstrated that her evidence was genuine and not rehearsed, as reported by The Mirror.
Regarding the second complainant, who testified on Thursday before the closing arguments, prosecutors described his evidence as crystal clear. According to Sky News and BBC News coverage, the male complainant stated that Dott touched him inappropriately on multiple separate occasions. Ms. Dalziel described him to the jury as a relaxed, conversational, and compelling witness who was keen to provide clear detail and description.
Defense Response and Next Steps in the Trial
Representing the accused, defense lawyer Euan Dow urged the jury to acquit his client, challenging the reliability and credibility of both accounts presented by the Crown. According to BreakingNews.ie and The Mirror, Mr. Dow told jurors during his closing speech that they would need to find the complainers entirely credible and reliable to depend upon their testimony.
The trial at the High Court of Justiciary in Glasgow continues as the jury considers the closing arguments from both the prosecution and the defense.
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