DISGRACED Premier League ref David Coote faces jail after yesterday admitting making an indecent image of a child in the wake of a Sun exposé.
Searches of Coote’s electronic devices sanctioned by the FA after our investigation into his drug use and match-fixing boasts revealed a sickening clip of a boy of 15.
Shamed Prem ref David Coote faces jail after admitting making an indecent image of a child[/caption]
A surveillance company hired by the Football Association discovered the Category A clip — the most serious — and alerted police who searched 43-year-old Coote’s home in Collingham, Notts.
A senior source close to the case said last night: “The horrendous criminal footage was found thanks only to The Sun’s revelations, which prompted further investigation.”
Coote, who snorted cocaine between matches, had previously denied the making a video charge but pleaded guilty yesterday when he appeared at Nottingham crown court.
He was bailed on condition he had no unsupervised contact with a child under 18, and did not live at an address where a person under 18 resided.
An application for a Sexual Harm Prevention Order will be made against him and the former referee will be added to the sex offender register.
Judge Nirmal Shant KC told him the offence “plainly crosses the custody threshold” so bailing him for reports was no indication he would be spared a prison term later.
Coote, who has no previous convictions, could be locked up for up to ten years for his offence.
He was suspended by refereeing bosses in November last year after footage from 2020 emerged of him calling former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp a “German c***” and the club “s***”.
Days later, we revealed he snorted cocaine at last summer’s Euros a day after the France v Portugal quarter-final at which he was a support VAR official.
He faced an FA betting investigation after we revealed Coote exchanged messages with a pal before a Championship match in which he was asked to book a player.
He was cleared of misconduct.
Interviewed by The Sun in January, Coote, who is gay, said that shame over his sexuality “led to a battle with drugs”.
In June, he was seen delivering packages for Evri.
He told us: “I’m trying to move forwards and regain a sense of responsibility and purpose.”
Coote will be sentenced in December.
Coote had previously denied the charge but pleaded guilty when he appeared in court[/caption]
Coote arriving at court to face the child sex offence[/caption]
The ref was sacked in December last year[/caption]
Coote officiated his first Premier League match in April 2018[/caption]
