Former Premier League referee David Coote has pleaded guilty to making an incident video of a child.

Coote, who was dismissed by the refereeing organization PGMOL last year, confessed to creating a category A video, which is considered the most serious type, and this was discovered by the police in February.

The 43-year-old, who wore a navy suit and black tie, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court today.

The judge informed Coote, who was standing in the dock with hands clasped, that a pre-sentence report would be conducted before determining his sentence.

She remarked: “You have admitted guilt to a grave issue. Whether this results in a custodial sentence will depend on the complete information before the court, hence the pre-sentence report.”

His case was adjourned to December 11 for sentencing.

Coote was arrested at his home earlier this year and charged by Nottinghamshire Police on August 12.

David Coote arrived at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to making an incident video of a child

Coote, left, admitted making a category A video, the most serious kind, which was recovered by police in February

Coote, 43, was dismissed by the Premier League last year after a video circulated online in which the official insulted former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp with derogatory words.

During a hearing last month, Ben Payne, the prosecutor, stated that the situation was brought to the police’s attention through the FA’s inquiry into Coote, leading to an examination of mobile phones by an external 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.

The laptop was seized on August 12, more than eight months after Coote had been sacked by PGMOL.

Coote, who was prominent in both top-flight and international matches, was terminated in December after a video surfaced showing him making inappropriate comments about former 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.

The former referee was then charged by the FA over the comments he made about Klopp

‘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.