Phillip Schofield shares damning statement after brother is found guilty of sex acts with boy & making him watch porn
PHILLIP Schofield has said he "no longer has a brother" after his sibling was found guilty of "emotionally blackmailing" a teen into sex acts.
Timothy Schofield, 54, carried out a string of sexual offences - the most serious involving an alleged sex act with the boy.
The abuse spanned a three-year period, during which time the victim was a teenager.
Schofield was today convicted of three counts of causing a child to watch sexual activity and three of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.
The civilian police officer was also found guilty of three counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two of sexual activity with a child after five hours deliberation.
TV presenter Phillip said in a statement following the verdict: "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."
During a harrowing trial, Exeter Crown Court was told he carried out the abuse while working for Avon and Somerset Police as an IT technician.
In September 2021, Schofield had phoned his famous brother Phillip in an "extreme state of agitation" before driving to his home in London for dinner.
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While the This Morning host was doing the washing up, his brother told him: "You are going to hate me for what I am about to say."
In his written evidence, Phillip added: "I said there was nothing he could say that would make me hate him."
The TV presenter said his brother told him he and the boy "had time together", including watching porn and "masturbating".
Phillip added: "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.
"He then started to tell me about (the victim's) body.
"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'."
The boy told jurors how he felt "emotionally blackmailed" and forced to go along with what was happening with Schofield.
He added: "I felt that emotionally there was no escape from what we had to do and I felt that there was a tremendous amount of pressure and expectation for me to fulfil what was being asked and wanted, and I felt that that was why I was feeling forced to participate."
But Schofield wept as he claimed he was left "on the verge" of taking his own life.
He admitted watching pornography and masturbating next to the boy, who he claimed was over 16 at the time, and said it was a "consensual thing".
Schofield denied performing sex acts on the teen and told jurors how he had been gay his "entire life".
The court was told he had searched for porn including ";young boy teen sex".
Schofield denied 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.
He was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on May 19.
Phillip has been taking "pre-planned leave" from This Morning following the trial.
'SICKENING'
Senior Investigating at Avon and Somerset Police, Officer Det Insp Keith Smith said: “This defendant has exploited and abused the victim by carrying out a sickening series of offences over a significant period of time.
“The impact on the victim has been immense and they’ve shown incredible bravery in disclosing the crimes committed against them, and by supporting the subsequent police investigation throughout.
“We hope this outcome will provide some comfort and enable them to recover from the abuse they’ve had inflicted on them.
“Although the defendant does not work in a public-facing role, and the offences are not linked to his employment, we know the fact he works for the police will be a matter of public concern.
“Until these criminal allegations were reported in December 2021, there were no previous allegations or complaints made to the police against this defendant.
“Once reported, officers carried out a thorough investigation, building a file of evidence and speaking to a number of witnesses, resulting in the defendant being charged and subsequently convicted of serious offences.
“Misconduct proceedings can now recommence at pace, and the defendant is due to be sentenced on May 19 at Bristol Crown Court.
“While the majority of police officers, staff and volunteers dedicate themselves to public service and keeping our communities safe, we know the public’s trust and confidence in policing nationally has been damaged by recent incidents.
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“To repair the damage these incidents have undoubtedly caused, we must take continue to take decisive action and be clear what standards we expect from our people.
"Where these standards are not met, we will take robust action to ensure those who let us all down cannot remain in policing.”
