Phillip Schofield’s brother ‘sexually abused schoolboy’

Phillip Schofield’s brother sexually abused a schoolboy before confessing some of his actions to his famous brother, a court heard.

Timothy Schofield, 54, appeared at Exeter Crown Court charged with sexual offences against a teenage boy.

The court heard that he confided in the This Morning host, after travelling to his home.

Timothy allegedly told his brother he and the teenager had special “time” together, to which the TV personality responded with “what the hell is [that]?”

Phillip warned his younger sibling that it should “never happen again”, the court heard, before giving a vital statement to police which forms a key part of the case against him.

Charged with 11 counts

Timothy, of Bath, Somerset, is charged with 11 counts of sexual offences against the boy over three years from October 2016, all of which he denies.

He is accused of causing him to watch sex acts and engage in sex acts. He also allegedly performed sex acts in front of the accuser.

The jury heard that Mr Schofield, a civilian IT police worker, encouraged the victim to watch pornography with him and carry out sexual acts together.

The most serious charge involved a sexual act with the teenager.

The court was told some of the pornography showed heterosexual sex, other sexual material with scenes of violence and some involving animals.

The jury was told the offences were carried out in the Bristol and south Gloucestershire areas between 2016 and 2019.

By August 2021 the victim had a girlfriend and confronted Mr Schofield and told him the abuse had to stop.

Mr Schofield had told the victim his 'penis did not work properly' due to illness and medication he was taking, said Mr Shellard.

The court was told the abuse came to light after the victim spoke to counsellors and the police became involved.

He described Mr Schofield as "evil and vile" adding that he had a "terrible temper".

Police examined Mr Schofield's laptops and phone and the jury heard they found he carried out searches for "young teen box set" and "gay teen porn torrents".

The prosecution claimed Mr Schofield had a sexual interest in boys and young teenage boys and was "sexually obsessed" with the victim.

'Things' need to stop

The jury heard how Timothy’s alleged victim confronted him in August 2021 and said “things” need to stop - a month before Timothy visited his brother to confide in him.

Prosecutor Robin Stellard KC said the “perverted relationship” was “affecting” Timothy as well as his alleged victim, according to the Daily Mail.

He said: “On the 12th of September 2021 he phoned his brother Phillip saying that his head was in a mess and could he come and see him.

“The defendant is seven years younger than Phillip and they had not been particularly close growing up, however in December 2019 the defendant told his brother he was gay.

“According to Phillip the defendant travelled up that day and he was extremely agitated. His brother described him as very angry and distressed.”

The judge, Mrs Justice Johanna Cutts, asked the jury to ignore any distractions stemming from Phillip Schofield’s fame, stressing that it had no relevance to the case.

She added that he would not be giving evidence in the case.

The trial, which is expected to last a week, continues.