Phillip Schofield's brother Timothy jailed for 12 years for ‘sickening offences’ that left victim ‘numb to life’
19 May 2023, 10:45 | Updated: 19 May 2023, 11:50
The brother of TV presenter Phillip Schofield has been sentenced to 12 years after he was convicted of sexually abusing a boy.
Timothy Schofield, 54, was sentenced to 12 years at Bristol Crown Court today on 11 counts of sexual offences against the boy between October 2016 and October 2019.
He will serve 2/3 of his sentence in prison and the remainder on licence.
Schofield, from Bath, denied all 11 offences, which included: making a child watch sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual activity with a child.
Detective Inspector Keith Smith read the following statement outside Bristol Crown Court: “Timothy Schofield, aged 54, who worked at Avon and Somerset Police’s Headquarters in Portishead, committed a series of sickening offences, for which he’s now been brought to justice.
“The victim in this case has shown remarkable bravery in disclosing the horrific offences committed against them, and their support of the police investigation and court process has been invaluable.”
The 54-year-old was remanded in custody following his guilty verdict at Exeter Crown Court early last month.
While giving evidence in his trial at Exeter Crown Court last month, he told jurors that he had watched pornography with the boy, who he insisted was over the age of 16 at the time.
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His brother and presenter of This Morning, Phillip Schofield, did not attend the sentencing.
The TV presenter 'disowned' his brother in a statement after the verdict was announced last month.
Timothy Schofield sat in the dock, looking to the ceiling as a statement from his victim was read in court.
The statement read: "Before Tim was arrested, I felt I had no freedom. I often felt panic, stress and fear. I felt like I was trapped in a loop of fear and anxiety of the abuse happening again and again.
"It was only after Tim was arrested that I felt safe. It was only after Tim was arrested that I felt free. Free to be me, free to be happy, free to be relaxed.
"When I think about what happened, it wasn't just what happened to me, it was who it made me become. I felt trampled on and feel I became a person who didn't expect a lot from people and how they treated me and therefore, I didn't get a lot.
"I feel numb to life and I know I should feel really happy or really sad but I don't have the ability to emotionally connect with what is happening."
Read more: Phillip Schofield disowns paedophile brother Timothy after he's convicted of sexually abusing boy
Read more: Phillip Schofield's younger brother Timothy 'sexually abused teenage boy over three years', court hears
Passing sentence, Ms Justice Cutts told Schofield: “It was wrong on every level for you to behave as you did.
“He felt forced to do what you wanted, trapped and unable to escape. He felt he couldn't tell anyone and did not do so for many years.
"You took away his ability to be the teenager he should have been - carefree, relaxed, happy. It is clear to me that you became utterly obsessed with him."
The court heard in mitigation that “deeply troubled” Schofield has been acting as a peer mentor while in custody and helping other prisoners with literacy.
Schofield, previously worked for Avon and Somerset Police as an IT worker, and was suspended following his arrest and dismissed from the force following his conviction.
Following his conviction, Phillip Schofield labelled his brother's crimes as "despicable" and said "as far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother."
Timothy told Phillip of his crimes in September 2021 and was arrested three months later.
The This Morning presenter said he had invited his brother to visit him in London after receiving a call from him in an "agitated and upset state".
He said the pair were having a meal together when Timothy confessed to the crimes.
Phillip's statement said: "I turned and said, 'What did you just say?' He said it was last year and we were alone together.
"Tim said it was just this once. I told him it should never happen again."
The presenter said his brother then tried to give him more details about the incident.
"I said, 'F***, stop'. I shouted at Tim that he had to stop. I didn't want to know any of the details but he made it sound like a one-off.
"I said, 'I don't want you to tell me anymore'. I said, 'You've got to stop, just never do it again. Regardless how that happened it must never happen again'."
