David Coote, a former Premier League referee, was sentenced on 8 January 2026 at Nottingham Crown Court. He received a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to making an indecent moving image of a child. The case has drawn significant public attention due to his former role in top-flight English football.
Coote, 43 at the time of sentencing, admitted to a Category A offence involving a video of a 15-year-old boy. The footage, lasting two minutes and 11 seconds, was discovered on his Dell laptop during a police investigation that had originally focused on separate comments he made about a former Liverpool manager.
The sentence includes 150 hours of unpaid work and a sexual harm prevention order lasting ten years. Judge Nirmal Shant KC described the case as a spectacular fall from grace for the former official.
Who Is David Coote?
David Coote worked his way up through English football’s refereeing ranks. He became a Football League referee in 2010 and was promoted to the Premier League Select Group in 2019. He represented the Nottinghamshire Football Association during his officiating career.
His career unravelled after a series of incidents. In 2025, he was suspended by the Football Association for eight weeks following a rant about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. That same year, PGMOL, the governing body for referees in English football, dismissed him from his role.
- David Coote, a former top-flight English football referee, was sentenced in January 2026 for a child abuse image offence.
- He received a nine-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to making an indecent moving image of a child.
- The case marks a significant fall from grace for a once-respected official in the Premier League.
- The sentence has sparked discussion about sentencing guidelines for such offences.
- He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and comply with a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | David Harry Coote |
| Date of birth | 11 July 1982 |
| Age at sentencing | 43 |
| Occupation | Former football referee |
| County Football Association | Nottinghamshire FA |
| Offence | Making an indecent moving image of a child |
| Plea | Guilty |
| Sentence | Nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years |
| Sentencing date | 8 January 2026 |
What Was David Coote Sentenced For?
The Offence and the Guilty Plea
David Coote pleaded guilty to making an indecent moving image of a child of the most serious kind, classified as Category A. The charge relates to a video, dated 2 January 2020, that showed a schoolboy in uniform undressing and performing sexual acts on himself. The footage lasted two minutes and 11 seconds.
Police seized Coote’s electronic devices in February 2025 during an investigation that initially concerned disparaging comments he had made about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. The indecent video was found on his Dell laptop.
How the Investigation Unfolded
Coote initially pleaded not guilty in September 2025. He changed his plea to guilty in October 2025. The case proceeded to sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court, where Judge Nirmal Shant KC presided. The court heard that the video involved the abuse of a real child, with the judge emphasising that such material causes direct harm to victims.
What Sentence Did David Coote Receive?
The Suspended Prison Term
Coote was handed a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. This means he will not serve time in prison unless he reoffends within that period or fails to comply with the court’s orders. The sentence reflects judicial discretion, balancing the severity of the offence with mitigating factors including his guilty plea and lack of prior convictions, according to court reports.
Additional Court Orders
Beyond the suspended sentence, the court imposed 150 hours of unpaid work. Coote must also comply with a sexual harm prevention order for ten years, which places restrictions on his activities and contact with minors. These additional measures were reported by multiple news outlets covering the sentencing.
The sentencing took place at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, 8 January 2026. The location connects to Coote’s representation of the Nottinghamshire FA during his refereeing career.
Judge’s Remarks
Judge Nirmal Shant KC described Coote’s situation as a spectacular fall from grace. The judge stated that videos of this nature involve the abuse of a real child, highlighting the seriousness of the offence. The remarks were widely reported by outlets including ESPN and Reuters.
What Happens Next for David Coote?
Employment Status and Future Prospects
Coote is no longer a referee. He was dismissed by PGMOL in 2025 following the social media video that contained disparaging remarks about Jurgen Klopp. Professional football organisations have not indicated any pathway for his return to officiating. The conditions of his suspended sentence will remain in place for two years, and the sexual harm prevention order lasts a decade.
Reaction to the Sentence
The sentence has prompted discussion about how the justice system handles such offences, particularly when committed by individuals in positions of public trust. Some commentators have noted the sentence avoids immediate prison time, while others have pointed out that the suspended term and additional orders are consistent with sentencing guidelines for first-time offenders who plead guilty. The case has also raised questions about safeguarding protocols within football’s officiating bodies.
Timeline of Key Events in the David Coote Case
- — David Harry Coote is born.
- — Becomes a Football League referee.
- — Promoted to the Premier League Select Group of Referees.
- — The indecent video is created, according to evidence presented in court.
- — Police seize Coote’s electronic devices during an investigation into comments about Jurgen Klopp.
- — The Football Association suspends Coote for eight weeks over the Klopp rant. PGMOL dismisses him from his role.
- — Coote is charged and initially pleads not guilty to the child image offence.
- — Coote changes his plea to guilty.
- — Sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to a nine-month suspended prison term, 150 hours of unpaid work, and a ten-year sexual harm prevention order.
This timeline draws on court reports from ESPN, Sky Sports, and Reuters.
What Is Known and What Remains Unclear About the Case
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| David Coote was a Premier League referee. | The exact nature and content of the image (details are often restricted by law to protect the victim). |
| He pleaded guilty to making an indecent moving image of a child. | Whether Coote will appeal the sentence. |
| He was sentenced on 8 January 2026 at Nottingham Crown Court. | The full timeline of the investigation leading to the charge. |
| The sentence was nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 150 hours of unpaid work and a ten-year sexual harm prevention order. | Specific conditions of the suspended sentence beyond the public record. |
Context: The Broader Implications of the Case
David Coote’s case represents a high-profile instance of a sports official facing serious criminal charges. It illustrates the legal consequences for possession and creation of indecent images of children, even for individuals who once held positions of public trust. The suspended sentence reflects judicial discretion, balancing the severity of the offence with mitigating factors such as the guilty plea and absence of prior convictions.
The case has damaged the reputation of Premier League officiating and raised questions about safeguarding and background checks within football. Some observers have noted that the relatively lenient outcome, avoiding immediate prison, may attract controversy, though it appears consistent with legal guidelines for similar first-time offences where the defendant pleads guilty. For a perspective on another sporting figure’s spectacular fall from grace and subsequent rebuilding, readers may also be interested in the story of Boris Becker – Rise, Fall, and Rebuilding. For more on the Premier League football context in which Coote operated, see the profile of Nuno Espírito Santo – Full Manager Profile and Career Biography.
Sources and Key Quotes on the Sentencing
Former football official David Coote is given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
— BBC News, report on the sentencing
Coote, 43, had previously pleaded guilty to making an indecent moving image of a child.
— The Guardian, court report
Former Premier League referee David Coote has avoided prison after a child abuse video was found on his device.
— ESPN, news coverage
Additional reporting from Sky Sports and Reuters provided further details on the court proceedings and the conditions of the sentence. A broader overview of the referee’s career is available on Wikipedia. For reference on sentencing guidelines, the UK Sentencing Council’s guidance on sexual offences provides relevant context.
Summary of the David Coote Case
David Coote, a former Premier League referee who represented the Nottinghamshire FA, was sentenced on 8 January 2026 at Nottingham Crown Court for making an indecent moving image of a child. He received a nine-month prison sentence suspended for two years, alongside 150 hours of unpaid work and a ten-year sexual harm prevention order. The case, described by the judge as a spectacular fall from grace, has ended his refereeing career and prompted wider discussion about safeguarding within professional football. For a look at how another sports figure navigated a major fall from grace and rebuilt a career, see the profile of Boris Becker – Rise, Fall, and Rebuilding.
Frequently Asked Questions About David Coote
What was the child abuse video found on David Coote’s device?
Court reports indicate it was an indecent moving image of a child classified as Category A, the most serious kind. Specific details are often restricted to protect the victim’s identity.
Where did the David Coote sentencing take place?
The sentencing took place at Nottingham Crown Court on 8 January 2026, as reported by BBC News and The Guardian.
How long was David Coote’s suspended sentence?
The prison sentence was nine months, suspended for two years.
Is David Coote still a referee?
No. He is a former referee and was dismissed by PGMOL in 2025. He is no longer officiating.
What county FA did David Coote represent?
He represented the Nottinghamshire Football Association during his refereeing career.
When did the offence take place?
The video was dated 2 January 2020, according to evidence presented in court.
Did David Coote go to prison?
No. He received a nine-month suspended prison sentence and will not serve time unless he reoffends or breaches court orders within the two-year suspension period.
What other penalties did the court impose?
Coote was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and to comply with a sexual harm prevention order for ten years.
Freddie Arthur Cooper Harrison is Editor-in-Chief of PopCulture UK, covering film, TV, music and celebrity news. He is accountable for the newsroom's editorial standards, and leads its sourcing and fact-checking process so that every article separates verified fact from rumour and is reviewed before publication.