Former Premier League Referee David Coote Handed Suspended Jail Term
Sports Updated: 08 January 2026 18:08 EAT
David Cootes let off from Prison for a catagoery A child sex offences
Former Premier League referee David Coote has been sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, after being convicted of an indecent image offence involving a minor.
Nottingham Crown Court heard that a sexual video involving a 15-year-old schoolboy was discovered on Coote’s laptop during a police investigation into unrelated matters.
Prosecutors told the court that the material was found when officers examined electronic devices seized as part of wider inquiries, leading to further forensic analysis and charges.
Coote, 43, pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a child, an offence under UK law that includes the downloading or possession of prohibited material.
In sentencing, the judge described the offence as grave, while acknowledging mitigation put forward by the defence during the hearing.
The court also imposed additional penalties, including unpaid community work and strict long-term safeguarding orders aimed at preventing further offences.
The conviction marks a dramatic fall from grace for Coote, whose refereeing career, spanning more than 100 Premier League matches, has now effectively come to an end.
Tags: English Premier League Signstvkenya Epl Fifa Uefa Champions League Uefa Europa League
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