Disgraced ex-Premier League referee David Coote has pleaded not guilty to making an indecent video of a child.
The 43-year-old, who was sacked by refs’ body PGMOL last year, appeared this morning at Nottingham Magistrates Court.
Coote, from Newark, is accused with making one indecent video of a child of ‘category A’ on January 2, 2020. Category A is the most serious of the categories and the charge relates to acts such as downloading, sharing and saving material.
Coote appeared in court number 15 and his case was the first to be heard. An application was made by his defence team to prevent his address from being made public which was rejected.
Coote wore a blue suit, white shirt and black tie and shoes. He sat at the back of court and first spoke to confirm his name and date of birth and then entered his plea.
Coote then asked for the trial to be heard in front of a jury at Crown Court rather than at Magistrates.
Ben Payne, prosecuting, said that the matter had come to the police’s attention following the FA’s investigation into Coote and that mobile phones had been examined by a third party.
‘Two conversations that were of concern appeared to indicate Mr Coote had a sexual interest in children,’ Mr Payne added.
Following a police investigation Payne said that Coote was arrested at his home address and a PGMOL-registered Dell laptop was subsequently seized. A Category A video, featuring moving image of a child aged 15 was found and was accessed on the date referenced in the charge.
Mr Payne added that the starting point for sentencing was a year in custody and said the trial would be suitable to be heard at Magistrates Court.
Coote was then given the option, and stood to say he would like the trial to be heard at Crown Court before a jury. A date was set for a pre-trial hearing at Nottingham Crown Court for October 9.
Before he left court, Coote was reminded of his bail conditions which are that he should have no unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18 without supervisory approval or reside in the same house as anyone under the age of 18.
Fraser Williamson, representing Coote, had opened the hearing at 10.34am by making an application to prevent the publication of his client’s address over concerns for his safety following threats made while he was a referee, which was refused by District Judge Gillian Young.
‘It is wrong for any professional to be subject of threats,’ Ms Young said. ‘I recognise that while Mr Coote is the subject of significant interest, he is no longer working as a referee I find it unlikely he will now be the subject of threats because of his refereeing decisions in the past. I am not persuaded there is a risk of death or serious harm.’
A statement released by the Nottinghamshire Police on Tuesday that explained the charge had read: ‘A suspect is due to appear in court after being charged with making an indecent image of a child.
‘David Coote, aged 43, has been charged with the offence after an investigation by Nottinghamshire Police.
‘The charge relates to a video file recovered by officers in February of this year. Coote, of Collingham, was charged on 12 August and is currently on conditional police bail.
‘He is due to appear at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court tomorrow 11 September.’
Coote was pictured arriving for his court appearance on Thursday. He was joined by solicitor Fraser Williamson.
Coote, a top-flight and international mainstay, was sacked in December after a video emerged of him making disparaging remarks about ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
In June, Coote was charged by the Football Association over the comments he made about Klopp, having labelled the former Liverpool boss a ‘German ****’ in the video.
Referencing Klopp’s German nationality constituted an ‘aggravated breach’ of the rules, according to the FA.
Earlier this summer PGMOL chief Howard Webb ruled out a return to officiating for Coote.
‘I think it’d be really difficult for David to come back, I’m afraid to say,’ Webb said.
‘He is somebody that we stay in contact with, somebody who was part of our refereeing family for a long time and served the game as well for a long period of time and I’ve known him personally for many years.
‘So it’s sad what happened with with David, but I would think it would be challenging thing for him to come back.’
Coote expressed remorse for his actions and spoke about being in a dark place at the time the videos were taken. He also said that he had hidden the fact he was gay during his career for fear of subsequent abuse.
‘My sexuality isn’t the only reason that led me to be in that position. But I’m not telling an authentic story if I don’t say that I’m gay and that I’ve had real struggles with hiding that,’ he said.
‘I hid my emotions as a young ref and I hid my sexuality as well – a good quality as a referee but a terrible quality as a human being. And that’s led me to a whole course of behaviours.’
In June, Coote – who first officiated in the Premier League in April 2018 – was spotted delivering packages for courier firm Evri.
In footage obtained by The Sun of a couple’s ring doorbell at their house, the former Premier League referee was seen dropping off a parcel for the company.
