Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually abusing two children, a girl and a boy, in cases spanning from the early 1990s to 2010. The 49-year-old, who won the World Snooker Championship in 2006, was convicted in a trial held last month after being found guilty of two counts of lewd, indecent, and libidinous behaviour involving victims of primary school age.

The offences against the girl, identified by the pseudonym Jane, occurred between 1993 and 1996, when Dott was himself a teenager of about 16 or 17 years old. The abuse began when Dott was a minor and included inappropriate touching, indecent exposure, and behaviour that the sentencing judge said today would be classed as rape. The second victim, a boy known as Kevin, was targeted between 2006 and 2010, during the period when Dott was an adult and at the height of his professional career.

The court heard that Dott’s conduct towards the victims included exposing himself, inappropriate touching, sexual remarks, and other forms of abuse disguised as games or acts of affection. The boy described incidents where Dott would come into the shower and wash him while touching him sexually and engaging in other abusive behaviour. Both victims testified that they were subjected to multiple episodes of abuse over the course of several years.

During sentencing at Edinburgh’s High Court, Judge Lord Harrower described Dott’s actions as a “gross violation of trust” and said he had “robbed the complainers of a significant part of their childhood.” He further remarked that the abuse bore “the hallmarks of grooming.” Dott was remanded in custody following sentencing and will remain on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Dott, who has consistently denied the charges, showed little visible reaction to the sentencing. His legal representative mentioned that Dott has long-standing mental health issues and that his conviction has destroyed both his personal and professional life. Following the conviction, his name was removed from World Snooker’s Hall of Fame, and he was suspended from competition prior to the trial.

Dott turned professional in 1994 and enjoyed a successful career, including reaching two other world finals aside from his 2006 championship win. The case has drawn significant attention in the sports community and among advocacy groups that support survivors of childhood abuse.

Support services have reiterated the availability of help for victims of abuse, including organizations such as the NSPCC and the National Association for People Abused in Childhood.