Phillip Schofield's paedophile brother Timothy Schofield jailed for 12 years

Timothy Schofield, the brother of TV presenter Phillip Schofield, has been jailed for sexual offences involving a child.

The 54-year-old was convicted of 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019 - including two of sexual activity with a child, following a trial at Exeter Crown Court. Today, he received a sentence for 12 years at Bristol Crown Court.

He must also sign as a sex offender for life and has been barred from working with children and vulnerable adults. Schofield reportedly showed no emotions as the sentence was handed.

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The civilian police worker from Bath, Somerset, told the jury while giving evidence that he had watched pornography with a boy who he insisted was over the age of 16 at the time. He claimed they masturbated while sitting apart and denied performing sexual acts on the teenager.

However, a jury found Schofield guilty on all counts with a majority of 10-2 after more than a five-and-a-half hour deliberation. Mrs Justice Cutts, sentencing, told him: “You exploited his innocence at this stage of his life for your own sexual gratification.

“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. You took away his ability to be the teenager he should have been – carefree, relaxed, happy.

"It is clear to me that you became utterly obsessed with him.”

In a victim's personal statement read to the court by Robin Shellard, prosecuting, the boy said he felt “numb to life” following the abuse.

He said: “Before Tim was arrested, I felt I had no freedom. I often felt panic,