Phillip Schofield's brother's accuser 'not motivated by hate or lies', jury told

31 March 2023 , 17:16

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The male who has accused the brother Phillip Schofield of sexually abusing him was not motivated by “hate or lies”, a court has heard

The teen who has accused Phillip Schofield's brother of sexually abusing him was not motivated by “hate or lies” and was telling the truth about what happened to him, a court has heard.

Timothy Schofield, 54, is on trial at Exeter Crown Court charged with 11 sexual offences involving a child between October 2016 and October 2019, including two of sexual activity with a child.

Schofield told his TV star brother Phillip about some of the alleged offending in September 2021, Exeter Crown Court heard.

But he has denied performing sexual acts on the teenager and insisted the boy was over 16 when they watched pornography together and had masturbated while sitting apart.

The defendant, an IT technician for Avon and Somerset Police, has told the jury he had been gay his “entire life” but had kept it “completely secret and hidden from everybody”.

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Timothy Schofield pictured with his brother, This Morning star Phillip Schofield (Instagram/ Phillip Schofield)

On Friday, the jury heard closing speeches from the barrister representing the Crown and Schofield’s lawyer.

Robin Shellard, prosecuting, said: “There are good reasons why society – and we here are all part of this society and the law which is founded because of society – treats those under 18 and those under 16 not as full adults.

“Society tries to protect children from adults who want to abuse them and tries to protect children from themselves.”

“We are not dealing with morals but criminal abuse against a child.”

During his evidence, Schofield said the watching of pornography and the masturbation began after the boy turned 16.

Mr Shellard said the evidence from the boy was that the abuse started when he was 13.

“We say the evidence shows the boy is not motivated by hate and lies," Mr Shellard said.

Schofield's alleged victim was a teenager when the alleged abuse began (PA)

Phillip hasn't appeared on This Morning this week (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Peter Binder, defending, said: “This is a court of law and not a court of public morals, and its entirely proper, due to the oaths and affirmations you have taken, to put aside all your feelings of antipathy and revulsion you feel towards the defendant and try this case and these charges on the evidence.

“You must be utterly dispassionate.

“This case boils down one person’s word – that of the boy – against the other – that of the defendant.”

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Schofield, of Bath, denies three counts of causing a child to watch sexual activity, three of engaging in 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.

Phillip Schofield has not appeared on ITV’s This Morning this week and the studio said he was taking “pre-planned leave”.

Mrs Justice Cutts told the jury they will retire to consider their verdicts on Monday.

Rod Minchin