TV presenter Phillip Schofield's brother Timothy has been sentenced to 12 years in jail for sexually abusing a teenage boy.
Timothy has been found guilty of 11 sexual offences involving a child, committed between October 2016 and October 2019 while he was a civilian police worker with the Avon and Somerset force.
The 54-year-old went on trial last month and was convicted of three counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, three counts of causing a child to watch sexual activity, three counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and two counts of sexual activity with a child.
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He was sentenced today (Friday, 19 May) at Bristol crown court.
Timothy was arrested within 48 hours after a teenage boy revealed the abuse he suffered as a result of the 54-year-old to two counsellors. Timothy was also suspended from his job in December 2021.
The court heard how Timothy 'emotionally blackmailed' and 'forced' the teenager into doing things which felt 'weird and wrong' from around the time the boy was 13 years old.
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The teenager and Timothy would sit and watch pornographic material together while sat apart from one another masturbating, Timothy admitted. However, the 54-year-old claimed the teenager was over 16 when it happened.
Assistant chief constable Will White - who chaired Timothy's misconduct hearing - noted the horrific nature of the crimes committed by Timothy are even 'greater' given his 'responsibility'
as a member of a police organisation.
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"The harm he’s caused has been serious and extensive.
"His criminal conviction undermines the public’s trust and confidence in the police service and its employees who work tirelessly to build that trust, particularly at this time of national scrutiny," White continued.
At the sentencing, Judge Ms Justice Cutts resolved: "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.
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"You took away his ability to be the teenager he should have been - carefree, relaxed, happy."
Phillip has yet to publicly comment on the result of the sentencing., however, when Timothy was found guilty of all counts in April, Phillip released a statement cutting ties with his brother, noting his 'overwhelming concern' for the 'wellbeing of the victim and his family'.
Phillip resolved: "If any crime had ever been confessed to me by my brother, I would have acted immediately to protect the victim and their family.
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"These are despicable crimes, and I welcome the guilty verdicts. As far as I am concerned, I no longer have a brother."
Male Survivors Partnership is available to support adult male survivors of sexual abuse and rape. You can contact the organisation on their website or on their free helpline 0808 800 5005, open 9am–5pm Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays; 8am–8pm Tuesdays and Thursdays; 10am–2pm Saturdays
Topics: Celebrity, TV And Film, Crime, True Crime, UK News
Poppy Bilderbeck