Graeme Dott ‘knew what he wanted me to do’, alleged abuse victim tells court

A man who alleges he was sexually abused as a child by snooker player Graeme Dott has told a court the accused “knew what he wanted me to do”.

Dott, 49, is accused of lewd, indecent, and libidinous behaviour towards two primary school-age children.

The allegations span from 1993 and 1996 involving a girl, and from 2006 to 2010 involving a boy, both in the Glasgow region.

Dott has denied the two charges against him.

His trial at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday heard evidence from one of Dott’s alleged victims, who was appearing by video-link.

The man, who is now in his late 20s, said he was sexually abused by Dott on multiple occasions, with the snooker player touching him inappropriately, kissing him, and performing sexual acts.

He told the court he remembers the first instance of alleged abuse as it happened when Dott was world snooker champion.

Being questioned by advocate depute Lindsey Dalziel, the witness said a lot of the abuse took place while he was in a shower, when Dott would come in either partly or completely undressed.

“He would… come into the shower and put soap on my body and wash me in the shower,” the man told the court.

“While he was washing me he would touch me in inappropriate places.”

I think he used money, sweets and chocolates as a reward strategy. So that would have been in his eyes a reward for me doing what he wanted

He said looking back at it now, Dott was “clearly getting sexual gratification from it”, and he was “pleasuring himself” while this was taking place.

The man said that because of his age at the time, he “did not know what was going on”, and it was only later he realised the interaction “wasn’t right”.

The witness also described abuse which took place in a car, where he said Dott would kiss him on the face, head and lips, and “push himself up against me”.

He told the court he remembers the smell of the soap Dott used, and he now gets “PTSD flashbacks” from the same smell today.

The witness said that during the abuse, Dott expected “nothing less than compliance” from him, and the defendant became “quite aggressive” if his alleged victim did not do what he wanted.

“(Dott) was quite forthcoming, his voice was aggressive,” the witness said.

“Looking back on it I would say he knew what he wanted me to do.”

He said Dott would give him gifts following episodes of abuse.

“I think he used money, sweets and chocolates as a reward strategy,” the man said.

“So that would have been in his eyes a reward for me doing what he wanted.”

The man told the court that on one occasion Dott gave him a £50 note – but when he went to a shop and tried to spend it, the shopkeeper alerted his parents.

When questioned by them he said he told his parents he had found the money, but they accused him of stealing it and gave him a “hard time” over it.

Cross-examining the man, Dott’s lawyer Euan Dow asked him why he had not told his parents Dott had been abusing him.

“I don’t remember why I lied,” the man replied.

Dow also put it to the man: “Can I make clear to you that Mr Dott doesn’t accept any of the instances of alleged abuse that you described in your evidence.”

The trial, before Judge Lord Harrower, continues.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.