Former Peterborough United Foundation coach to be sentenced for making and distributing indecent images of 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 perverting the course of justice during a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court on May 20.

The court heard that Avent made 12 still and 37 moving images of children across Categories A (most severe) to C (least severe) between July 2020 and January 2024.

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.

He then rose up to the role of community coach before becoming a scholarship coach.

Peterborough United has 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 29th November 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 4th December 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.”

Avent has been granted bail while he awaits sentencing back at Lincoln Crown Court on July 2.

His bail conditions include that he must not have any unsupervised with children under the age of 18 and he must register at his nearest police station under the terms of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.