Former Premier League referee David Coote has been given a suspended prison sentence after admitting to making an indecent image of a child. The 43-year-old, who officiated in the Premier League from 2018, was handed a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, alongside a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Coote, from Woodhill, Collingham, Nottinghamshire, admitted downloading and viewing a category A indecent video involving a 15-year-old boy in a school uniform on 2 January 2020. The offence was discovered during a police investigation in February 2025, when devices belonging to Coote were seized and analysed.

Judge Nirmal Shant KC told Coote: “Those who commit this sort of offence must realise they involve a real child and that causes them damage.”

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Details of the Offence

Analysis revealed that Coote’s Dell laptop had been connected to an external hard drive, and the category A video—a two-minute, 11-second clip—had been downloaded and viewed. The charge of making an indecent image of a child encompasses activities such as downloading, sharing, or saving videos or photos depicting child abuse.

Coote initially pleaded not guilty but admitted the offence at Nottingham Crown Court in October 2025. The court heard that his actions occurred during a period of personal turmoil following the breakdown of a relationship.

His defence lawyer stated: “His actions on 2 January 2020 do not reflect him as a person. He has faced media scrutiny and is now trying to rebuild his life step by step.”

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Career and Public Scrutiny

David Coote enjoyed a career at the height of English football, officiating Premier League matches from 2018. However, his professional reputation declined sharply following several incidents:

• 2020: Recorded rant about Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp surfaced publicly.
• 2024: Sacked by the FA after video footage of the Klopp comments emerged.
• 2024–25: Suspended by the FA for eight weeks and banned by UEFA until 30 June 2026 after photos showed him snorting a white powder during Euro 2024 in Germany.
• 2025: Coote publicly came out as gay, citing a lifelong struggle with his sexuality as a contributing factor to his personal and professional challenges.

Judge Shant described Coote’s situation as a “spectacular fall from grace”, highlighting the contrast between his prior career achievements and his subsequent legal and personal issues.

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Sentencing and Restrictions

In addition to the suspended prison sentence and sexual harm prevention order, Coote was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. Judge Shant warned that any breach of the order or involvement in further offences, particularly sexual offences, would result in immediate court action.

Coote has reportedly been attempting to rebuild his life in an administrative role while facing the consequences of his actions and extensive media scrutiny.