Coote, 43, had previously pleaded guilty to making an indecent moving image of a child
www.theguardian.com
The former Premier League referee David Coote has been given a suspended sentence after he was found to have a sexual video of a 15-year-old boy in school uniform on his laptop.
Judge Shant said Coote, 43, had a 'spectacular fall from grace' after police charged him with making a category A video, the most serious kind, of a 15-year-old schoolboy. The charge refers to activities such as downloading, sharing or saving photos or videos containing abuse.
The sacked referee was also given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order, which the judge said would restrict his 'contact and communication with children' and where he was allowed to live. He has also been ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.
Prosecutors said the 2min 11s video found on his laptop showed the boy undress until he was completely naked, before performing sexual acts on himself.
Passing sentence on Coote, Shant told him: “Those who commit this sort of offence must understand that they involve real children being abused, with all the consequent damage that comes from it.”
Coote was sacked by Professional Game Match Officials Limited in December 2024 after an unrelated video surfaced in which he made comments about the then Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp.
How the national media reacted to Everton's 1-1 Premier League draw with Wolves at Hill Dickinson Stadium and the red card drama that overshadowed everything
www.liverpoolecho.co.uk
Andy Hunter, in The Guardian, writes: 'The game’s gone, part 999. The Wolves recovery continued at Everton yet their impressive resolve under Rob Edwards was overshadowed by the ludicrous red card that should embarrass Professional Match Game Officials and the Premier League.
Common sense and elite level referees parted company long ago but the decision to dismiss Michael Keane for violent conduct after he pulled Tolu Arokodare’s dreadlocks while challenging for a header defied belief. Joao Neves and Jack Stephens on Marc Cucurella this was not. Once Thomas Kirk was sent to the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee, Chris Kavanagh, however, the league’s newest referee was never going to challenge his superiors by asking where their senses had gone.
Keane was duly shown a straight red card and must serve a three-match ban unless Everton appeal and win. Jack Grealish received the first red card of his Premier League career minutes later for two bookable shows of dissent in quick succession.'
probably best I’m not going to see us play them
good to see you around again! Missed you before the holidays! Much love amigoawesome mate! Hope you have a nice evening(seriously)
Solid banger game this
Will post a vid or two when I’m there.
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