A former world snooker champion has been convicted of lewd and libidinous behavior toward a girl and a boy.
Key facts
- •The defendant is a former world snooker champion.
- •The court found the defendant guilty of lewd and libidinous behavior toward a girl and a boy.
- •Abuse against the male victim included incidents in a shower, a car, and while the defendant played online poker.
- •Police previously investigated the allegations in 2001 without bringing charges.
- •The defendant previously denied the allegations, calling them "disgusting."
A former world snooker champion has been found guilty of committing lewd and libidinous acts against a girl and a boy. The court proceedings detailed multiple instances of abuse, including incidents occurring in a South Lanarkshire home and a vehicle.
Details of the Abuse
During the trial, the court heard testimony that the former champion caressed a girl's bottom while giving her a piggyback and exposed himself to her on another occasion. Regarding the male victim, who is now in his 20s, the court was told the defendant molested him in a shower and provided money, crisps, and fizzy drinks as rewards. The victim also reported being abused in a car and inappropriately touched while the defendant played online poker.
Legal Context
The charges of lewd and libidinous practices apply to sexual crimes against children committed before December 1, 2010. Although the specific offence was abolished in 2009, it remains applicable to crimes committed prior to that date. Police had previously contacted the defendant regarding these allegations in 2001, though no charges were brought at that time. The defendant had previously described the allegations as "disgusting."
Timeline
- 2001Police contacted the defendant regarding the allegations, but no charges were brought.
- 2009The offence of lewd and libidinous practices was abolished.
- 1 December 2010This date marks the cutoff for when lewd and libidinous practices charges can be applied to historical crimes.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Sport.
