Home / Crime and Justice / Ex-Premier League Referee Avoids Jail for Child Image Offence
Ex-Premier League Referee Avoids Jail for Child Image Offence
8 Jan
Summary
- Former referee David Coote received a suspended jail sentence for a child image offence.
- He received a 10-year sexual harm prevention order following the guilty plea.
- Coote's sentencing followed an unrelated investigation into comments about Jurgen Klopp.
Former Premier League referee David Coote received a nine-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, for making an indecent image of a child. The offense, a Category A charge, relates to a video file found on a laptop accessed on January 2, 2020. Coote pleaded guilty to the charge after initially entering a not guilty plea.
His sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday also included a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. The court heard that police came to Coote's home during a separate investigation into comments he made about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, which led to his initial suspension by the PGMOL in November 2024.
Judge Nirmal Shant described Coote's situation as a "spectacular fall from grace," noting the seriousness of the offense which involves "a real child being abused." Coote was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work.
