September 2008 Cheltenham man jailed for sexual offences against a boy A CHELTENHAM man has been jailed for 15 months for sexual offences against a boy more than 30 years ago. Reginald Street, 56, of Mendip Road, was told by Judge Mark Horton at Gloucester Crown Court that he had “destroyed the boy’s childhood and damaged his adulthood”. Street admitted two charges of indecent assault on a 14-year-old and one charge of indecency with the same child. The offences took place over a 10-year period. Crown Prosecutor Giles Nelson said the offences came to light when the victim, now in his 40s, complained to police after receiving telephone calls. Mr Nelson said, when interviewed, the victim was able to recall three specific cases of abuse against a background of grooming and abuse. After committing the offences, Street told the boy: “Don’t tell anyone. I’ll go to prison. I love you with all of my heart”, said Mr Nelson. In a statement, the victim had described how the abuse had a “devastating effect” on his life. Defending Joanna Lewis, in mitigation, said Street had no recollection of the offences but had no reason to believe the victim was not telling the truth. Miss Lewis said psychiatric and psychological reports indicated Street was unable to form normal social relationships and contacts. He had intellectual impairment, personality deficiencies, suffered social isolation and did not have friends. Street, Miss Lewis said, had been of good character, had the good support of his sister and worked as a porter. He suffered a great deal of illness, she said. The judge said: “There is no doubt that you corrupted this young child and this catastrophe has had a prolonged and detrimental effect on the victim. Passing sentence, the judge said he had taken into account Street’s intellectual and sociological difficulties and the fact he had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity in reducing the sentence to the “absolute bare minimum”. On each of the indecent assault charges, Street was jailed for 15 months. For indecency, he was jailed for three months with all terms to run concurrently. He will serve half the sentence before being released on licence. He was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register.