David Coote

David Coote, a 43-year-old former Premier League referee residing on Woodhill Road in Collingham, near Newark, Nottinghamshire, faced legal proceedings at Nottingham Crown Court over charges related to child sexual abuse material. The case stemmed from an investigation initiated by the Football Association (FA) into Coote's conduct, which led to police involvement and the subsequent discovery of illicit content on his devices.

During an October 2025 court hearing, Coote admitted to the charge of making an indecent image of a child. This offence encompasses actions such as downloading, distributing, or storing abusive photographs or videos of children. Police had confiscated multiple devices from Coote's residence, and upon examination, uncovered a category A video—the most severe classification of such material—depicting child abuse. The investigation began after the FA's inquiry into separate allegations against Coote, prompting authorities to detain him and search his home.

Coote was expected to be sentenced on December 11, 2025, at Nottingham Crown Court. However, the proceedings were adjourned for a brief three-minute hearing due to the unavailability of his barrister on medical grounds. Judge Nirmal Shant KC firmly stated she was "simply not prepared" to proceed with sentencing if his legal representative were to participate via video-link, emphasising the importance of in-person representation. The sentencing was rescheduled to January 8, 2026. Coote himself was absent from the rescheduling hearing.

Prior to these events, Coote's career had already faced scrutiny. He was dismissed by Professional Game Match Officials Limited in December 2024 following the emergence of footage from 2020 showing him making derogatory remarks about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. In August 2025, the FA imposed an eight-week suspension related to that incident. In a January 2025 interview with The Sun, Coote publicly came out as gay, attributing a lifelong struggle with his sexuality as a contributing factor to the earlier rant. This case highlights ongoing issues within public figures and the enforcement of laws against child sexual exploitation material in the United Kingdom.

The charge and guilty plea were reported by the Press Association, with coverage in the Liverpool Echo detailing the court's decision and background context from magistrates' sessions.