Timothy Schofield, the brother of This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield, has been jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage boy.
Schofield, 54, was found guilty last month of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019 following a trial at Exeter Crown Court. This morning he appeared at Bristol Crown Court where he was jailed for 12 years, BristolLive reports.
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The 54-year-old, from Bath, told the jury while giving evidence that he had watched pornography with the boy, whom he insisted was over the age of 16 at that time, and they had carried out a sex act while sitting apart, but he denied performing sexual acts on the teenager.
Schofield, who was dismissed by his former employer Avon and Somerset Police following the conviction, was found guilty by a jury on all counts with a majority of 10-2 after more than five-and-a-half hours of deliberation.
Peter Binder, defending, said mitigation would be brief and limited. He said his client had an absence of previous convictions and had mental health frailties.
He said it was impossible to say how isolated Schofield's make-up contributed to the wholly inappropriate relationship with a teenage boy. Schofield was a broken man long before his arrest for the offence, Mr Binder said.
Since Schofield has been remanded in custody he has acted as a mentor for prisoners and helped inmate with literary skills, the court heard. Mr Binder has concluded his mitigation.
Sentencing, The Honourable Mrs Justice Cutts told Schofield he exploited the child's innocence for his own sexual gratification. He made the boy watch porn, they performed sex acts together, and the activity happened over years.
Schofield would also give the child drink, the court heard, and then carry out sex acts on him. The boy was unable to deal with what was happening and felt trapped, the court heard, and the youngster felt he could not tell his family about the abuse.
The judge said when the victim got a girlfriend Schofield felt like a "jealous lover". It was the boy who finally told Schofield the abuse would happen no more.
The abuse had a devastating impact on (the boy) and his family. The judge said: "Doing what you did you thought only of yourself. Only of yourself."
The judge jailed Schofield to 12 years, of which he is due to serve two-thirds. He must sign as a sex offender for life and is barred from working with children and vulnerable adults.
Schofield, showed no emotion as he was taken down to the cells.
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