Former Met Police officer branded ‘the devil’ as he is jailed for life over multiple rapes

Cliff Mitchell had been serving in Hounslow when he bundled a woman into his car and tied her up

Cliff Mitchell was found guilty of multiple rape counts (Metropolitan Police/PA Wire)

A former Metropolitan Police officer jailed for multiple counts of rape has been described as the “devil” and a “pathetic excuse of a man” by his victims.

Cliff Mitchell, 24, had approached one woman with a knife in September 2023 and told her to put her arms behind her back, before tying her and placing duct tape over her mouth.

The court had heard that he laughed at his victim as she cried, told her she was a slut and that no-one would believe her if she said anything because he was a police officer.

Following a trial at Croydon Crown Court, he was found guilty of 10 counts of rape, three counts of rape of a child under 13, one count of kidnap and breach of a non-molestation order.

He has now been jailed for life and must serve a minimum sentence of 13 years and 225 days for his crimes that took place between 2014 and 2023.

Jurors heard that after attacking one woman, he had forced her and another person to get into his car, with the woman only managing to escape by saying she had to get out of the vehicle because she felt sick.

He was jailed for life at Croydon Crown Court (Google)

She was later seen running through traffic by members of the public before a passer-by noticed what was going on and managed to get her in her vehicle, his trial was told.

In a 999 call played to the court, the distressed woman told the operator “he’s kidnapped me” and “he’s behind us” as she travelled in the car of the passerby who had offered help.

Mitchell had previously been subject to a rape investigation in 2017, which had resulted in no further action, the force said.

Following his arrest, the case was reinvestigated which resulted in Mitchell being charged with an additional three counts of rape of a child under 13 and three counts of rape.

These six charges relate to a second victim and occurred between 2014 and 2017, the Met said.

Mitchell, of Wandsworth, south-west London, was a Pc in the Met’s West Area Basic Command Unit and had been serving in Hounslow when a number of the offences were committed.

He was suspended from the force after the allegations came to light and has since been dismissed.

In the sentencing hearing, one victim’s statement addressing Mitchell read: “You have shown no remorse for what you did to us.

“You deserve to spend the rest of your life in a cell because you are a serious danger to every woman walking the streets.

“You are the devil. You disgust me. I hope you suffer for the rest of your life.”

The court heard how the women suffer from post traumatic stress disorder from their ordeals and struggles they now face in daily life.

The other victim, who said she lives in constant fear, said to Mitchell in court: “I’m holding you account for your actions, you took away my self worth.

“You are a pathetic excuse of a man. I’m letting myself heal from the trauma.”

Sentencing Mitchell on Wednesday, Mrs Justice May said his crimes were so serious “a sentence of life imprisonment is required”.

The judge said: “Cliff Mitchell is clearly a deeply troubled young man… [his] serious offending appears to have arisen for desire for control.

“The fact he was a police officer, albeit for a short time, will make imprisonment a harsher experience for him.”

Mrs Justice May also praised the bravery of the victims for coming forward and giving evidence in the trial, and the police officers involved in the case and the passer-by who helped the kidnapped victim.