Philip Street

Philip Street, 59, of Greenaway in Morchard Bishop, Devon, appeared at Exeter Crown Court on Friday, 1 May 2026, where he was sentenced to ten years in prison for a total of seven sexual offences, including two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration, one sexual assault, and two multiple-incident counts reflecting further rapes and assaults over a two-year period.

Street had been found guilty at a trial in March 2026. The court heard how he used his physical size and fear to control his victim, repeatedly forcing himself on her despite her attempts to resist. She told him “no” and tried to push him off, but he persisted, telling her it was “their secret” and that nobody would believe her. His offending came to light when the victim disclosed the abuse at her GP surgery.

During his police interview, Street initially denied any sexual contact with the victim. After his DNA was recovered from forensic swabs, he altered his account, claiming that any sex had been consensual. The jury rejected this defence and convicted him of all charges.

Detective Constable Craig Ferguson, the officer in the case, said: “I welcome today’s sentencing which follows a detailed and lengthy investigation. In his evidence Philip Street sought to present his sexual abuse and the repeated rape of his victim as consensual and as an affair. The very notion of this explanation is abhorrent, and a smear upon the victim and her character. Her position was clear – that Street repeatedly forced himself onto her despite her efforts to stop him and resist him. He has been shown to be a sexual predator who disregarded his victim’s voice, and has now rightly been imprisoned.”

The victim showed tremendous courage throughout the investigation and trial, and DC Ferguson paid tribute to her for finding the strength to speak out against her abuser and give evidence in court.

Street was also ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.