Former Premier League Referee Admits to Child Image Offense
Former Premier League referee David Coote pleads guilty to making indecent image of child. Learn more about the case and what's next for Coote.
“You have pleaded guilty to a serious matter. Whether this means custody or not will be decided when all the information is before the court...”
Former Premier League referee David Coote has pleaded guilty at Nottingham Crown Court to making an indecent image of a child. The charge relates to a category A video, the most serious kind, recovered by police in February.
Coote was charged in August following an investigation by Nottinghamshire Police. This development comes months after he was sacked as a referee due to comments he made about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Coote's guilty plea has led to a pre-sentence report being ordered by Judge Nirmal Shant KC. He has been granted conditional bail and is scheduled to appear in court again on December 11 for sentencing.
A 43-year-old man, previously a referee, has changed his plea to guilty after initially denying involvement with a Category A video, the most serious type of child exploitation crime. He appeared in court on Tuesday morning for the hearing.
The man's guilty plea comes after previously maintaining his innocence, having pleaded not guilty at a hearing in September. The change in plea signifies an acknowledgment of the charges against him.
Category A videos are considered the most severe type of child exploitation content, and convictions related to such crimes carry significant penalties. The court's proceedings will now focus on determining the appropriate sentence for the offender.
“You have pleaded guilty to a serious matter. Whether this means custody or not will be decided when all the information is before the court, which is why I have ordered a pre-sentencing report,” Judge Nirmal Shant KC told the court.
Former Premier League referee David Coote pleads guilty to making indecent images of a child. pic.twitter.com/8rplzMOt3z
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 14, 2025
David Coote's sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2025, after being granted conditional bail. The former Premier League referee pleaded guilty to making an indecent image of a child, a serious offense linked to a Category A video discovered by police in February.
The charge against Coote involves “making an indecent image of a child,” which includes actions like downloading, saving, or sharing abusive content. This offense carries severe penalties, including potential imprisonment.
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