Philip Schofield's brother found guilty of sexually abusing teen boy
Phillip Schofield's brother Timothy confided in the TV star after allegedly sexually abusing a schoolboy
This Morning
Philip Schofield's brother, Timothy, has been found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy.
The 54-year-old was charged with 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019.
This afternoon a jury at Exeter Crown Court found him guilty of all counts with a majority of 10-2 after more than five-and-a-half hours of deliberation.
He denied the charges but 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.
Philip Schofield's brother has been charged with sexual abusing a 13-year-old
PA
Schofield told his presenter brother in September 2021 that he performed a sex act with the boy in the year prior, according to a witness statement Philip gave to the court.
The police IT technician repeatedly put his actions down to “mental health struggles”, while suggesting the complainant is “exaggerating” the details.
His defence lawyer insisted the younger brother of the TV star had not committed a criminal offence, but was guilty of “the most serious crimes in the court of public morals”.
Closing the case for the prosecution, prosecutor Robin Shellard said: “We are not dealing with morals but criminal abuse against a child.
“There are good reasons why society - and we here are all parts 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.”
In response to the defendant’s “exaggeration” claims, 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.
Ahead of sentencing at Bristol Crown Court on May 19, he has been remanded in custody.