Notorious Former Premier League Referee David Coote Hit with Suspended Sentence Over Child Abuse Video
A 43-year-old former Premier League referee, David Coote, has been handed a suspended sentence after being found in possession of a category A video featuring a 15-year-old schoolboy. The disturbing footage showed the boy undressing and performing sexual acts on himself. Coote's laptop also contained other inappropriate content.
Coote, who was sacked by Professional Game Match Officials Limited in December 2024 following an unrelated incident involving comments about then-Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, has been given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. This will restrict his contact with children and limit where he can live.
As part of the sentence, Coote was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. A judge described Coote's actions as a "spectacular fall from grace," highlighting the gravity of his offense. The court was told that Coote had downloaded the video when he was struggling with personal difficulties and mental health issues.
In a bid to mitigate the severity of the sentence, Coote's defense lawyer argued for a suspended prison term, citing the need for rehabilitation and the avoidance of a costly custodial sentence. However, Coote refused to comment on his sentence as he left Nottingham Crown Court.
The court's decision has been welcomed by anti-child abuse advocates, who have expressed relief that justice was served in this case. The sentencing marks a turning point in Coote's life, one from which it appears he will need to take significant steps towards rehabilitation and redemption.
A 43-year-old former Premier League referee, David Coote, has been handed a suspended sentence after being found in possession of a category A video featuring a 15-year-old schoolboy. The disturbing footage showed the boy undressing and performing sexual acts on himself. Coote's laptop also contained other inappropriate content.
Coote, who was sacked by Professional Game Match Officials Limited in December 2024 following an unrelated incident involving comments about then-Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, has been given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order. This will restrict his contact with children and limit where he can live.
As part of the sentence, Coote was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. A judge described Coote's actions as a "spectacular fall from grace," highlighting the gravity of his offense. The court was told that Coote had downloaded the video when he was struggling with personal difficulties and mental health issues.
In a bid to mitigate the severity of the sentence, Coote's defense lawyer argued for a suspended prison term, citing the need for rehabilitation and the avoidance of a costly custodial sentence. However, Coote refused to comment on his sentence as he left Nottingham Crown Court.
The court's decision has been welcomed by anti-child abuse advocates, who have expressed relief that justice was served in this case. The sentencing marks a turning point in Coote's life, one from which it appears he will need to take significant steps towards rehabilitation and redemption.
come on guys, 10 years is still kinda harsh for someone who was struggling with mental health issues and downloaded the video by accident 
, i mean we all make stupid mistakes right? he's not even a threat to minors anymore, a 150 hour community service is more than enough punishment. what's next? 
suspended sentence for anyone caught downloading anything on their phone? 
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. it's a stark contrast to when we're feeling strong and capable, but vulnerability can be just as debilitating. let's not forget that we all have the capacity for growth & redemption - coote's 10-year sentence might seem like a long time, but with the right support & mindset, he'll get there 
. what about us? are we taking care of our own mental health? 
its just horrific to think about him being a grown man who can't control his urges and is now facing serious consequences for his actions...he's been given a suspended sentence but in my opinion, that's not enough considering how many young lives were affected by those videos. 10 years without contact with kids? 150 hours of community service? its just not enough to make up for the trauma he's caused 
. The fact that he was struggling with personal issues and mental health problems doesn't excuse his actions, but it does raise questions about how this happened in the first place 
. I'm glad that the court took into account the need for rehabilitation, but at the same time, I think 10 years is a pretty generous sentence considering the gravity of the offense 
the fact that he downloaded that video when he was struggling with personal issues is just sad, but also kinda pathetic. anyway, glad the court took this case seriously and gave him a punishment that reflects his actions 
. 150 hours of community service sounds like a good starting point for his rehabilitation, fingers crossed he takes it seriously 
... I mean i guess some ppl rnt even b aware of whats goin on 
& stuff like that 150 hours of unpaid work? thats nothing compared to the stress we go thru every day with exams & homework 