Timothy Schofield accused of sexually abusing teen

The brother of TV presenter Phillip Schofield allegedly sexually abused a teenage boy after becoming "obsessed with him", a court has heard.

Timothy Schofield, 54, a civilian police worker from Bath, denies two counts of sexual activity with a child, as well as nine other charges.

He encouraged the boy to watch pornography with him and they took part in a sexual act together, jurors heard.

The alleged offences were carried out around Bristol between 2016 and 2019.

Timothy Schofield is alleged to have made partial confessions about his behaviour to his older brother Phillip in September 2021, Exeter Crown Court heard.

It happened shortly after the teenager confronted Timothy Schofield about his actions and told him the abuse must stop, the jury was told.

The boy was video interviewed by police after making a disclosure to a school counsellor.

The jury was then played the video as the main part of the boy's evidence.

In the video, the boy told police Timothy Schofield's abuse "felt really wrong" and that he felt he had been "blackmailed emotionally".

Robin Shellard, prosecuting, claimed Timothy Schofield had a sexual interest in boys and young teenage boys and became "sexually obsessed" with the teenager.

The civilian staff member, who is employed by Avon and Somerset Police, denies three charges of causing a child to watch sexual activity, three of 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.

Jurors heard the offences were carried out in the Bristol and south Gloucestershire areas between 2016 and 2019.

Mr Shellard told the jury that in September 2021 Timothy Schofield had phoned his brother Phillip.

He told Phillip that "his head was a mess" and asked if he could come to see Phillip, who is seven years his senior, Mr Shellard said.

The jurors heard the brothers had not been "particularly close growing up" and Phillip had described Timothy Schofield as being "angry and distressed" when they met at Phillip's home that month, the jury heard.

The defendant said his brother would hate him for what he was about to say, and Phillip said that he would not, Mr Shellard added.

It is then alleged Timothy Schofield made partial confessions to Phillip about having performed a sex act with the boy.

The court heard Phillip had replied 'what did you just say?' and that Timothy Schofield said it had happened last year 'just once' to which Phillip said: "That should never happen again."

By August 2021 the teenager had a girlfriend, who confronted Timothy Schofield and told him the abuse had to stop, the jury heard.

The teenager described Timothy Schofield as "evil and vile", and said he had a "terrible temper".

When police examined Timothy Schofield's laptops and phone, they found he had carried out searches including the words "young teen", the court heard.

Judge Ms Justice Cutts warned jurors that Phillip Schofield's celebrity status had "no relevance at all in this case".

She told the jury: "His brother is Phillip Schofield. He happens to be the well-known TV personality. "I say 'happens to be' as that fact has no relevance at all in this case. He is not coming to this court to give evidence."

The trial continues.

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