Timothy Schofield, the brother of television presenter Phillip Schofield, has been jailed for 12 years after being convicted of sexually abusing a vulnerable teenage boy over a three-year period. The 54-year-old, who worked as a civilian IT worker for Avon and Somerset Police, was found guilty of 11 sexual offences involving a child.
The offences took place between October 2016 and October 2019. Sentencing him at Bristol Crown Court, Mrs Justice Cutts said Schofield had exploited the victim's innocence for his own sexual gratification. She told him: "You took away his ability to be the teenager he should have been: carefree, relaxed, happy. You became utterly obsessed with him." The judge noted that no genuine remorse had been shown, only self-pity.
In a victim personal statement, the complainant said he had felt trapped and unable to escape, describing feelings of panic, stress and fear. He said: "I feel more blunt, I feel more bitter, I feel numb to life. I know I should feel really happy or really sad but I don’t have the ability to emotionally react." The court heard that Schofield had given the boy alcohol to make him more "malleable" and that some of the pornography involved was "extreme".
The offences came to light after the victim was persuaded to speak to counsellors. Schofield was arrested at his home in Bath within 48 hours of the police being alerted. He was suspended from his police role in December 2021 and later dismissed without notice following a misconduct hearing.
After the verdicts last month, Phillip Schofield said he was disowning his brother, describing the crimes as "despicable". He added: "As far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother." Detective Inspector Keith Smith of Avon and Somerset Police said the offences were not connected to Schofield's employment but that his position as a member of staff would be "of great concern" to the public. The NSPCC praised the victim's courage in coming forward and giving evidence.
