A former Peterborough United Foundation coach has been given a suspended jail sentence after he admitted making and distributing indecent images of young children.
Callum Avent (29) of St Matthews Close, Holbeach pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photographs of a child, one count of distributing indecent photographs of a child and one count of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Lincoln Crown Court heard Avent’s Snapchat account was flagged to the police in October 2023, and a search was executed at his home on November 29, 2023.
During the search Avent “secreted” his work phone in a child’s bag. It was later recovered along with a second mobile phone.
At the time Avent was working for Peterborough United Foundation as a Scholarship Coach, the court was told, working with year 12 and 13 children, and schools.
Avent’s two phones were examined and were found to contain 38 indecent images of children across Category A (most severe) with one moving, nine Category B images with seven moving and 17 Category C images with eight moving.
The court heard Avent also shared and received indecent images of children with other uses on Snapchat, including Category A moving images of children aged between eight and twelve years.
During his first interview Avent denied having an interest in children, and claimed he was using Snapchat to have conversations with men and explore his sexuality.
Avent said he hid his phone in a moment of panic.
Jon Dee, mitigating, told the court: “He is a 29 year old man with no previous convictions who pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.”
Mr Dee said Avent no longer worked with children.
“He was a football coach, he isn’t now. He was in a relationship, he isn’t now,” Mr Dee added.
“What he is now is a man without a job on the Sex Offender’s Register.”
Passing sentence Recorder Simon King said he accepted Avent hid his work phone in the heat of the moment.
But Recorder King told Avent that did not excuse his actions.
Recorder King said it was also a worrying feature that he shared images.
“Regrettably you did not just acquire images for your own sexual gratification,” Recorder King added.
“You were working with young people at the time this happened, you were a football coach I am told.”
But Recorder King said that with “some hesitation and some concern” he could suspend his jail sentence.
Avent was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment suspended for three years and was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
He must also complete 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days, 26 sessions of an Accredited Course and a Mental Health Treatment Requirement.
Recorder King warned Avent: “Do not think for one moment you are getting off lightly.”
Avent was officially suspended by the Peterborough United Foundation on December 4, 2023 after being contacted by Lincolnshire Police.
The club immediately informed EFL in the Community- the Football League’s charitable arm- and the Football Association.
At the time of his suspension, Avent was working for the Peterborough United Foundation as a Sport Scholarship Coach, Development Player Programme Manager and Elite Player Performance JPL U15 Coach.
Avent joined the club in 2017 as an apprentice after completing a National Citizen Service course run by the foundation.
In a statement Peterborough United insisted that all safeguarding procedures were followed throughout the process and confirmed that Avent was dismissed as soon as evidence against him was found.
A club statement said: “We can confirm that Callum was an employee of the Peterborough United Foundation. He was originally an apprentice, then a Community Coach followed by a Scholarship Coach.
“Peterborough United Foundation were contacted by Peterborough LADO on the November 29, 2023 following a referral from Lincolnshire Police and they immediately informed the EFL In the Community.
“The FA were notified on the 30th November and a LADO meeting was held in which The Foundation and the FA were in attendance.
“He was officially suspended by the Foundation on the December 4 pending investigations and they co-operated fully with the police investigation.
“When notified that evidence had been found, and after taking employment advice, he was immediately dismissed from his position.
“All safeguarding procedures were followed in accordance with all the authorities involved.”
