David Coote has been sentenced to 9 months in jail, suspended for 2 years, after pleading responsible to creating an indecent picture of a kid.
The court docket heard that police seized the disgraced former Premier League referee’s digital units and an express two-minute video of a 15-year-old boy, initially in a faculty uniform, from January 2 2020, was discovered on his laptop computer.
Coote was charged in October with an allegation referring to a class A video, essentially the most critical form, recovered by police in February.
The 43-year-old appeared for his sentencing listening to at Nottingham Crown Courtroom on Thursday the place prosecutors stated a clip was discovered after a separate probe into feedback he made about ex-Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp in 2020.
The court docket heard the previous referee answered no remark to related questions in a police interview in February 2025, and was cautioned after officers discovered cocaine in his home in the identical month.
Sparing Coote a direct jail sentence, Decide Nirmal Shant KC informed the previous referee: “You have had a spectacular fall from grace.”
She informed him movies such because the one Coote had downloaded “involve a real child being abused”, including that these viewing related materials ought to keep in mind the “consequent damage that follows from it”.
Talking about his mind-set, Decide Shant informed him: “You were a lonely man. You had a relationship that had broken down recently.
“You had psychological well being difficulties and also you have been consuming cocaine, which in fact was your alternative, nevertheless it had a direct impact in your considering.”
Coote was granted access to an area normally reserved for witnesses before leaving the court building via a private exit marked “probation liaison workplace”.
He did not speak when asked if he had any comment to make. Coote’s barrister Laura Jane Miller said he was “deeply ashamed of himself”.
She told the court: “For the final six years, Mr Coote has confronted intensive media scrutiny.
“He has shown remorse for this offending to the probation service.
“He stated he is deeply ashamed of himself and his actions.”
Prosecutor Jeremy Janes stated the offence of creating a class A picture can result in a most sentence of three years in jail.
The cost of creating an indecent picture of a kid refers to actions comparable to downloading, sharing or saving photographs or movies.
Coote was sacked by Skilled Sport Match Officers Restricted in December 2024 after a video of feedback he made about Klopp got here to gentle.
In August 2025, Coote was given an eight-week suspension by the Soccer Affiliation over the Klopp footage.
In January final 12 months, Coote got here out as homosexual in an interview with The Solar and stated a lifelong wrestle to cover his sexuality had contributed to his feedback about Klopp.
