Phillip Schofield’s brother, 54, is found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy and forcing him into sex acts over three-year period
- He was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing at Bristol Crown Court in May
Philip Schofield’s brother was today found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy over a period of three years from the age of 13.
Timothy Schofield, 54, had admitted to watching pornography and performing sex acts with the schoolboy but claimed he only did so when the alleged victim was over 16.
However, a jury today found he had begun sexually abusing the boy years earlier, including coercing him into performing sex acts on him.
Schofield, who is seven years younger than his famous sibling, pleaded not guilty but was convicted of 11 counts of sexual offences at Exeter Crown Court.
Today, Phillip welcomed the guilty verdicts, adding: ‘As far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother’.
Timothy told his TV star brother in September 2021 that he performed a sex act with the boy a year before, according to a witness statement Philip gave to the court.
Timothy Schofield told his TV star brother in September 2021 that he performed a sex act with the boy a year before, according to a witness statement Philip gave to the court
Timothy Schofield, 54, (pictured covering his head outside court) was found guilty of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019
The police IT technician, from Bath, had repeatedly blamed his actions on his ‘mental health struggles’ and suggested the complainant is ‘exaggerating’ what happened.
Meanwhile, his defence lawyer said that while he was guilty of ‘the most serious crimes in the court of public morals’ he had not committed a criminal offence.
But closing the case for the prosecution, prosecutor Robin Shellard said: ‘We are not dealing with morals but criminal abuse against a child.’
He added: ‘There are good reasons why society – and we here are all part of this society and the law which is founded because of society – treats those under 18 and those under 16 not as full adults.
‘Society tries to protect children from adults who want to abuse them and tries to protect children from themselves.’
Referring to the defendant’s claims of ‘exaggeration’, Mr Shellard said: ‘The problem for Mr Schofield is how restrained the boy is in his allegations.
‘Is that person motivated by hate and spite or is he saying things about what happened? We say the evidence shows the boy is not motivated by hate and lies.’
Schofield was convicted of three counts of causing a child to watch sexual activity, three of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, three of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and two of sexual activity with a child.
His brother Philip said afterwards: ‘My overwhelming concern is and has always been for the wellbeing of the victim and his family. I hope that their privacy will now be respected.
‘If any crime had ever been confessed to me by my brother, I would have acted immediately to protect the victim and their family.’
‘These are despicable crimes, and I welcome the guilty verdicts. As far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother.’
Schofield was convicted of three counts of causing a child to watch sexual activity, three of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, three of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, and two of sexual activity with a child
Thomas has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing at Bristol Crown Court on May 19.
An NSPCC spokesperson said: ‘Child sexual abuse can have devastating and long-lasting impact on a person’s life and Timothy Schofield’s actions were deeply harmful.
‘We hope that the young man he targeted is receiving all the support he needs to move forward with his life.
‘It is so important that those who have experienced abuse are empowered to speak out, and that members of the public feel equally empowered to talk to someone if they are worried about a young person, no matter who they are or when it happened.’
