Timothy Schofield, the younger brother of Phillip Schofield, committed sexual abuse over a three-year period against a teenage boy. Exeter Crown Court convicted him of 11 counts of sexual offences, which included two of sexual activity with a child, after a trial.
Schofield, a civilian police worker in Bath, admitted to watching pornography and masturbating with the schoolboy. He denied performing any sexual acts on him. However, the jury found him guilty on all counts with a majority of 10-2 after more than five-and-a-half hours of deliberation.
The victim alleged that the abuse began when he was 13. He felt “emotionally blackmailed” by Schofield, who had repeatedly blamed his actions on his “mental health struggles”. Schofield also suggested the complainant was “exaggerating” what had happened. The boy also stated feeling pressured to participate in the sexual activity. Meanwhile, Schofield’s defence lawyer argued that he was guilty of “the most serious crimes in the court of public morals.” However, he had not committed a criminal offence.
Phillip Schofield, a well-known TV host and presenter of the popular daytime show This Morning, distanced himself from his brother following the guilty verdict. In a statement released by his lawyer, he expressed his concern for the victim’s well-being and their family. He stated that he would have acted immediately to protect them had he been made aware of any crimes committed by his brother. He also said that he no longer considered Timothy Schofield, his brother.
The sentencing of Schofield, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, will be carried out later. The case highlights the importance of child protection against sexual abuse and society’s zero tolerance toward such crimes.
