Former Premier League Referee David Coote Receives Suspended Prison Sentence for Child Image Offense

David Coote, a former Premier League referee, has been given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting to creating an indecent image of a child. The court was informed that the police had seized Coote's electronic devices and discovered a two-minute explicit video of a 15-year-old boy on his laptop, initially dressed in a school uniform, dating back to January 2, 2020. Coote was charged in October with a category A offense, the most severe type, following the recovery of the video by the police in February. During his sentencing hearing at Nottingham Crown Court, prosecutors revealed that the video was found after an investigation into comments Coote made about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in 2020. The 43-year-old refused to comment during a police interview in February 2025 and was cautioned after cocaine was discovered in his home. Judge Nirmal Shant KC spared Coote an immediate prison term, stating, 'You have experienced a remarkable fall from grace.' She emphasized that videos like the one Coote downloaded 'involve the abuse of a real child' and that viewers of similar content should be aware of the 'resulting harm that follows.' The judge also discussed Coote's state of mind, saying, 'You were a lonely individual, having recently gone through a relationship breakdown, and were struggling with mental health issues and cocaine use, which directly impacted your thinking.' Coote was allowed to access a restricted area before leaving the court via a private exit. His barrister, Laura Jane Miller, stated that he was 'deeply ashamed of himself,' and that he had shown remorse for his actions to the probation service. Prosecutor Jeremy Janes noted that the offense of creating a category A image can result in a maximum prison sentence of three years. The charge pertains to activities such as downloading, sharing, or saving indecent photos or videos. Coote was dismissed by Professional Game Match Officials Limited in December 2024 after a video of his comments about Klopp surfaced. He also received an eight-week suspension from the Football Association in August 2025. In a previous interview with The Sun, Coote revealed that he had struggled with his sexuality throughout his life, which contributed to his comments about Klopp.