Former world champion Dott goes on trial over child abuse allegations

The 2006 world champion is accused of lewd and libidinous behaviour towards a girl and a boy in Glasgow and South Lanarkshire. 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. She added Dott allegedly touched her over her clothes and lasted "maybe a couple of minutes". Prosecutor Lindsey Dalziel then asked if she remembered Dott saying anything. "I think he said 'does that feel nice' or something. I cannot recall," she added.

She went on to speak of another alleged incident after Dott was said to have asked if she wanted to play a "guessing game" at the house. The witness claimed Dott, who lives in the Dennistoun area of Glasgow, went on to suggest that she take her trousers down. He also lifted her top and started kissing her "belly". Asked if she ever told anyone at that time about what was happening, she stated: "No. Graeme told me not to." The woman told the court it was few years later that she first confided in a friend, but did not go into any details with her. She said she also spoke to a teacher before meeting with police in January 2001. Dalziel asked: "Had you done anything to instigate the police coming?"

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