The sentencing of former Premier League referee David Coote for making an indecent image of a child has been adjourned until the new year.
Coote, whose contract was terminated by the referees’ organisation Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) last December, was due at Nottingham crown court today to learn whether he will receive a prison term.
However, the hearing was adjourned for a new sentencing date on January 8.
Coote, of Newark, Nottinghamshire, had initially denied creating the sexually explicit image of a 15-year-old that was found on a hard drive during a police search of his house. At a hearing in October, though, he changed his plea and pleaded guilty.
The image was a Category A offence — the most serious level – and he was warned at the time that he could receive a prison sentence.
“Whether this means custody or not depends on the information brought to court,” the judge, Nirmal Shan’t, told the 43-year-old. “You mustn’t go away with the impression this means a non-custodial sentence — it doesn’t.”
