Former Premier League official David Coote has been handed a suspended prison sentence after a category A sexual video of a 15-year-old schoolboy was discovered on his laptop.
A Spectacular Fall From Grace
Nottingham Crown Court heard on Thursday, 8 January 2026, that the 43-year-old was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years. The footage, classified as category A – the most severe kind – depicted a teenage boy in school uniform.
Judge Nirmal Shant KC told Coote he had experienced a "spectacular fall from grace." She emphasised the gravity of such crimes, stating, "Those who commit this sort of offence must understand that they involve real children being abused, with all the consequent damage that comes from it."
How the Offence Came to Light
The disturbing clip was uncovered during a separate investigation. Prosecutors revealed that the video was found after authorities looked into comments Coote had made about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Coote was sacked from his refereeing role in December 2024 after a controversial video surfaced showing him making remarks about the German football manager. He was subsequently charged in February 2025 with making an indecent image of a child, to which he pleaded guilty last October.
The Legal Outcome and Consequences
The charge of 'making an image' encompasses activities such as downloading, saving, or sharing abusive photographs. By avoiding an immediate custodial sentence, Coote will serve his nine-month term in the community under the two-year suspension.
This case marks a dramatic downfall for the former top-flight official, whose career was ended by the initial controversy before this more serious criminal matter was exposed. The court's decision underscores the legal repercussions for possessing such material, even as it spared him jail time.
