Ex-Prem ref David Coote spared jail over twisted baby intercourse abuse video of schoolboy, 15

Former Premier League referee David Coote has been spared jail after downloading a twisted child sex abuse video.

The disgraced official, 43, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday morning, having previously pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a child. He initially denied the charge, but at a hearing in October admitted to downloading a category A video – the most serious category – of a 15-year-old boy. And today a judge handed him nine months in jail, suspended for two years.

Coote extracted the video from a hard drive on his laptop in January 2, 2020. It was recovered by police when they also discovered cocaine in a search of his home in February last year, following the collapse of his refereeing career in the wake of the derogatory comments he made about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp in an infamous viral video, which sparked an investigation into the official.

Jeremy Janes, prosecuting, today said the two minutes and 11 seconds long video downloaded by Coote showed an unidentified 15-year-old boy in school uniform undressing and performing a sex act.

Coote, from Collingham, near Newark, Notts, made no comment when arrested and interviewed by police in February last year. The court heard he has no previous convictions, but was cautioned for possession of cocaine, recovered when police searched his home.

Laura Jane Miller, defending Coote, urged the judge to consider suspending any prison sentence. She said: “This defendant had an outward persona as a very successful football referee. That outward persona did not reflect him as a person because behind that was an internal struggle with his mental health dating back to 2017 following the breakdown of a relationship.

“Mr Coote’s cocaine use commenced in around 2019 and he has lost his career and reputation amid intense press scrutiny. He has shown remorse for this offending, he is ashamed of himself and his actions, and he has not taken any cocaine since his arrest in February, 2025.

“He now works in an administrative role and is trying to rebuild his life step-by-step. His life is a far cry from where it was at the height of his career and he knows he will never get that career back.” She added: “He is not someone who will find themselves back before the courts again. He’s deeply ashamed of himself and his actions.”

Judge Nirmal Shant KC, Honorary Recorder of Nottingham, said: “David Coote you have had a spectacular fall from grace. You were filmed making comments about the then Liverpool manager and that led to this investigation.

“The image was of a young boy carrying our indecent acts. At the time you told the police they would find cocaine which they did and that was for your personal use and you were cautioned for that. Those who commit this sort of offence must realise they involve a real child and that causes them damage.”

However, the judge added: “The question I have to look at is whether or not this sentence that can be suspended. Is the offence so serious that only immediate custody is appropriate or is there a realistic prospect of rehabilitation?

“At the time of the offence, although you were riding high in your career you were a lonely man who suffered a relationship breakdown and you were taking cocaine.

“The pre-sentence concludes there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation. Nearly six years have elapsed since this offence and there is no evidence of any further offending. You are at a low risk of committing further offences.”

Judge Shant ordered Coote to sign on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years and handed him a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. She also told him he is barred from working with children and ordered him to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.

Coote was sacked by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December 2024, following their own investigation into his conduct. The investigation was initially instigated after the clip of derogatory comments he made about Jurgen Klopp emerged on social media in November 2024.

Leaked footage from 2020 showed him calling Klopp a ‘German c***’ and referring to Liverpool as ‘s***’. Coote was filmed saying: “Aside from having a right pop at me when I was refereeing them against Burnley in lockdown he accused me of lying and then had a right f****** pop of me.

“I have no interest in speaking to someone who is f****** arrogant. So I do my best not to speak to him. You can see me there with a ‘mask’ on. But, my god, German c***, f*** me.”

The official was suspended by the PGMOL at the time, before in August last year, he was given an eight-week suspension by the Football Association over the footage.

He was also suspended by UEFA after another video emerged that showed Coote snorting a white powder through bank notes while in Germany during Euro 2024, where he was one of the assistant video assistant referees. Coote was issued with a ban until June 30, 2026 by UEFA in February last year.

In January last year, Coote came out as gay in an interview with The Sun and said a lifelong struggle to hide his sexuality had contributed to the rant about Klopp and other personal problems. Since his sacking he has been seen in doorbell cam footage delivering packages for Evri.