The video only came to light after Coote’s refereeing career began to unravel. In late 2024, footage of him making derogatory comments about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp circulated online, upsetting the vast majority of online Liverpool fans. As a result, he was suspended and later dismissed by PGMOL.
With Coote in the spotlight, further accusations followed in the tabloid press, including claims of drug use and match fixing, prompting the Football Association to open an investigation. While Coote was cleared of all charges, the FA’s investigation uncovered what were described as “concerning conversations”, which led to police involvement.
Police officers then searched his home and seized a Dell laptop and an external hard drive. Forensic analysis revealed that the laptop had been used to download the indecent video while Coote was still functioning at the highest level.
Coote initially pleaded not guilty when he first appeared in court last September, before changing his plea to guilty a month later. During Thursday’s sentencing hearing at Nottingham Crown Court, the 43-year-old avoided jail, but little else had been saved.
Coote was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, in addition to 150 hours of unpaid work and a sexual harm prevention order lasting until 2036.
The case centered on a Category A video – the most serious offense – which was downloaded and viewed on a hard drive at Coote’s home in Nottinghamshire in January 2020. The footage, which lasted just over two minutes, involved a 15-year-old boy.
While pronouncing the sentence, Judge Nirmal Shant KC made it clear the seriousness of the offence.
“A real child was abused here,” she told Coote, warning that any breach of the prevention order would result in an immediate return to court and possible jail time.
In mitigation, Coote’s defense described a prolonged period of instability in his personal life, including mental health problems following the breakdown of a relationship and cocaine use from 2019.
The court heard that Coote had accepted a police caution for cocaine possession last year and had described drug use as a ‘coping mechanism’. He has since undergone therapy – funded by PGMOL – and now visits a psychiatrist every week.
It was also noted that Coote has started work in an administrative role and publicly acknowledged his sexuality following his dismissal as a referee.
Judge Shant recognized those steps but gave a blunt assessment of where he is now, saying Coote had suffered a “spectacular fall from grace… Some might say he has himself to blame.”
Contact the author of this story, Harry Ewing, at force.l1767965979laboratory1767965979ofdlr1767965979are1767965979sni@g1767965979it’s him.1767965979year1767965979
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