logo
Snooker world champion Graeme Dott to stand trial over child sex abuse allegations

Snooker world champion Graeme Dott to stand trial over child sex abuse allegations

Wales Online2 days ago
Snooker world champion Graeme Dott to stand trial over child sex abuse allegations
The 48-year-old has pleaded not guilty to two charges relating to primary school age children
Graeme Dott
(Image: Getty Images)
Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott is to stand trial next year over allegations of child sex abuse.
Dott, 48, is accused of two charges relating to primary school age children.
The allegations span between 1993 and 1996 involving a girl, and 2006 to 2010 involving a boy, both in the Glasgow region.
A virtual hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Thursday was told Dott, who was not present, denies the charges.
Defending, Euan Dow said: "He pleads not guilty to two charges on the indictment.
Article continues below
"The position of the accused is that the allegations are fabricated and there is no truth in any of them."
A trial date was set for August 17 next year at the same court and bail was continued.
Dott was suspended by snooker's governing body in April after being charged.
Article continues below
Dott won the world snooker championship in 2006 after beating Peter Ebdon in the final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
The Scottish player also reached the final on two other occasions, losing to Ronnie O'Sullivan in 2004 and Neil Robertson in 2010.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Former pastor convicted of abusing woman and children over 23 years
Former pastor convicted of abusing woman and children over 23 years

Times

time4 hours ago

  • Times

Former pastor convicted of abusing woman and children over 23 years

​​A former pastor with the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) is behind bars after being convicted of the serial abuse of a woman and eight children over a 23-year period. The Rev James Haram, 51, was found guilty of 19 charges of physical and sexual abuse, with a judge branding his victims' ordeals as 'truly awful'. The crimes, which included the rape of the woman, took place between 1997 and 2020 at addresses in Glasgow, Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire and South Ayrshire. Haram subjected the woman, whose identity is protected, to a campaign of abuse The High Court in Glasgow heard testimony detailing Haram's ​catalogue of abuse. The woman, whose identity is protected, was subjected to a campaign of psychological and physical torment. She was called derogatory names, and Haram would fly into rages, punching walls and throwing household items. ​The court was told he once threatened to hit her with a piano stool and even mowed over flowers she had grown. His controlling behaviour extended to tracking her movements and conversations. The violence escalated to the point where Haram grabbed and choked her, causing her 'whole body to go limp'. Jurors were also told of the pastor's manipulation as he badgered the woman into sex, using biblical references to force her to 'subject' herself to him. Haram conducted 'modesty checks' on young girls SPINDRIFT During his defence, Haram claimed all sexual encounters were consensual and that the woman was an 'incredibly convincing' liar who had used her 'many wonderful gifts' to 'turn against' him. However, he did admit to 'occasional flare-ups of aggression'. The court ​was told Haram​ conducted 'modesty checks' on young girls and violent beatings with a wooden spoon or a rod. John Macpherson, prosecuting, highlighted one girl's 'graphic account of some savagery' and being regularly beaten by Haram, an account which the pastor said was 'wholly fabricated'. In one incident, Haram allegedly flew into a rage while in a car with two children, threatening to deliberately crash and kill them all. He told the trial​: 'They knew I did not mean it.' In a final act of defiance, Haram clutched a Bible as he was led to the cells. Judge Tom Hughes told Haram that the jury had heard deeply distressing evidence and that the 'extremely serious offences' would 'obviously carry a lengthy custodial sentence'. Sentencing has been deferred until September for reports, but Haram has been remanded in custody.

Rangers v Alloa: Cyriel Dessers injury latest as Moore could make debut plus Igamane & Aasgaard updates
Rangers v Alloa: Cyriel Dessers injury latest as Moore could make debut plus Igamane & Aasgaard updates

Scottish Sun

time5 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Rangers v Alloa: Cyriel Dessers injury latest as Moore could make debut plus Igamane & Aasgaard updates

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RANGERS didn't win either of their first two domestic games in the Scottish Premiership against Motherwell and Dundee. But will Russell Martin finally get off to a winning start domestically against League One challengers Alloa this weekend? Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 1 Russell Martin is searching for his first domestic win Credit: Willie Vass Rangers host the Wasps at Ibrox in a David vs Goliath Premier Sports Cup clash tomorrow night. It would be a shocker if the Light Blues don't get the job done against their third division opponents. But we found out last season that anything can happen in the cup at Ibrox - after Queen's Park stunned Philippe Clement's side to dump them out of the Scottish Cup in February. That was one of - if not the biggest - cup upsets in the history of Scottish football. But if Alloa manage to pull off a similar result in Govan then that would most certainly top it. Russell Martin will be without a number of his players for this one - but he could also hand one of his summer signings their Ibrox debut. SunSport has all the details ahead of the showdown. What time does Rangers vs Alloa kick off? Rangers take on Alloa on Saturday, August 16. The game kicks off at 5.45pm UK time. It will be held at Ibrox. What TV channel is Rangers vs Alloa kick off and can I live stream it? The game will be shown live on Premier Sports 1. Coverage begins at 5.15pm - half an hour before kick off. Subscribers can stream the game live via the Premier Sports website or app. BBC Sportsound will have live radio commentary. Alternatively, you can follow al the action right here with our LIVE blog. Team news Russell Martin could welcome the likes of Thelo Aasgaard, Mikey Moore and Hamza Igamane back this weekend. Billy Dodds on turning down Celtic for Rangers and surviving relegation scare with Aberdeen Moore will be available to face Alloa, while the other pair could feature in the squad after making their returns from injury. The manager revealed that both Aasgaard and Igamane will be available to face Club Brugge - and hinted they could feature in the Premier Sports Cup tie. The game against Alloa will come too soon for Cyriel Dessers, though, but he should be ready to face the Belgian outfit too. Dujon Sterling will definitely be missing from the cup tie. Latest odds Rangers 1/40 Draw 19/1 Alloa 35/1 *Latest odds correct from Sky Bet as of Friday, August 15. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

CELTIC 4 FALKIRK 1: No more shocks to the system as Premier Sports Cup holders power through to last eight
CELTIC 4 FALKIRK 1: No more shocks to the system as Premier Sports Cup holders power through to last eight

Daily Mail​

time5 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

CELTIC 4 FALKIRK 1: No more shocks to the system as Premier Sports Cup holders power through to last eight

To lose one cup tie may be regarded as misfortune. To lose two in succession would have looked like carelessness. Three months after a rare blemish appeared on their copybook under Brendan Rodgers in domestic knockout competitions when they lost to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final, Celtic were never in danger of relinquishing their grip on the Premier Sports Cup. In complete control from the first whistle to the last against Falkirk, Rodgers' men made light work of advancing to the last eight. Daizen Maeda's first-half header, Alistair Johnston's second-half curler, Dane Murray's thumping effort and an own goal by Liam Henderson did the damage before Keenan Adams netted a spectacular consolation for the visitors. Last September in this competition, Falkirk had served notice that they were a team on the rise. Twice John McGlynn's men led that day before being buried with four late goals. The just didn't have enough about themselves here to cause the same degree of concern. In all facets of their game, aside from their finishing in the first period, Celtic were on point. The 40th cup tie of Rodgers' two spells in charge brought up a resounding 38th victory. The ongoing disquiet over a lack of new faces off the field didn't overshadow the performance on it. Falkirk were game, but just didn't have the ability to play through Celtic's press or to make the most of their rare opportunities. If Rodgers' men had had their shooting boots on in the first half, this could have been a rout. It said much about Celtic's lack of transfer activity so far this summer that Kieran Tierney was the only starting player who wasn't at the club on the day of the Scottish Cup Final. Only two of the nine-man bench, Benjamin Nygren and Shin Yamada, fell into that category. Given his need for a goal, Adam Idah's place on the bench was surprising, with Johnny Kenny tasked with finding the net. Some 15 months after he last kept goal here in a 3-2 win over St Mirren, Scott Bain was back in the colours of Falkirk. The keeper saw a familiar scene unfolding. Playing with tempo and purpose, Celtic dominated the ball. Maeda and James Forrest peppered the visiting box with crosses. Kenny was inches away from flashing home the opener on 10 minutes after Forrest put one on a plate for him. While Callum McGregor's curler was never worrying Bain, Henderson's wayward back pass almost crept in at the keeper's far post. With the Bairns unable to get up for air, Tierney's strike was beaten away by the keeper. The onslaught continued. Luke McCowan's clever pass set up Kenny. Bain was equal to the strike. Dylan Tait's body check on Tierney allowed Arne Engels to try his luck with a free-kick from the right. This time the far post came to Falkirk's rescue. Arriving on the 26-minute mark, Celtic's opener had long felt inevitable. Forrest's strike was blocked. McGregor floated the ball to the back post. Tierney had the presence of mind to nod it back across goal. Maeda threw himself at the ball to open his account for the campaign with a flying header. It was only after falling behind that Falkirk posed any threat. Calvin Miller, once of this parish, forced Viljami Sinisalo to stretch and turn a bouncing strike round for a corner. A poor cross field pass by Forrest gifted Ross MacIvor an opening. Again, Sinisalo was equal to the strike. Forrest seemed to be everywhere. He buried his head in his hands when he headed McCowan's cross over the top when it was easier to score. Miller was just as conspicuous for the visitors. A smart take and strike at the outset of the second half was straight at Celtic's Finnish keeper. Seeking to score in his 17th successive season, Forrest's fierce drive forced Bain to leap to his right and pull off a fine save. If there's such a thing as trying too hard then Miller was guilty of it. As Falkirk tried to build from a throw-in deep on their left side, he'd took too many touches and had his pocket picked by McCowan. The ball was shuttled to Johnston who took one steadying touch before bending the ball into the far corner. Job just about done. The cherry on the cake was provided just after the hour mark by Murray. Rising to meet Arne Engels' corner, the towering defender found the far corner of the net. Quite the way to celebrate signing a new long-term contract. Rodgers' threw on a string of subs. Hyun-jun Yang's impact was immediate. His burst down the left channel preceded a cross which Henderson turned into his own net. Although they lacked much from middle to front, you certainly couldn't fault the application of McGlynn's men. They got something for their commendable efforts with the game long gone, a quite brilliant strike by full-back Adams which arrowed into the top corner from 20 yards. Despite conceding for the first time in a competitive game this season, it was still a fine night's work for Celtic. Yamada looked a handful when he replaced Kenny through the middle. Blessed with physicality and pace, the forward certainly has many of the attributes which could allow him to become the latest Japanese player to make an impact at Celtic. In danger of becoming the forgotten man of Celtic's midfield, Paulo Bernardo also showed up well when he was sent on. Only a deflection prevented the Portuguese from opening his account for the season. Auston Trusty looked the better for getting 90 minutes under his belt, McCowan was excellent throughout with and without the ball while Tierney just cruised through the evening. Kairat Almaty may well pose a greater threat when they contest the first leg of the Champions League play-off next Wednesday. Despite a bewildering lack of investment in the side to this point, Celtic approach that challenge in good shape.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store