Former Met Police officer jailed for life for rape
Cliff Mitchell, 24, was also convicted of kidnap; he was suspended from the force in December 2023
A former Metropolitan police officer has been jailed for life - with a minimum of almost 14 years - for the 10 counts of rape.
Cliff Mitchell, 24 and from Wandsworth, was also convicted of three counts of rape of a child under 13, one count of kidnap and breach of a non-molestation order.
In their impact statements at sentencing, victims who were repeatedly attacked by Mitchell have called him "the devil" and "a pathetic excuse for a man."
Mitchell kidnapped and raped one of his victims with a knife in September 2023, telling her to put her arms behind her back, before tying her up with cable ties and putting tape over her mouth.
Croydon Crown Court court had heard that he laughed at his victim as she cried, told her she was a s**t and that no-one would believe her if she said anything because he was a police officer.
He must serve a minimum sentence of 13 years and 225 days for his crimes that took place between 2014 and 2023.
If he is released he will be on licence for the rest of his life.
Judge: "the fact he was a police officer... will make imprisonment a harsher experience for him"
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.
The judge added the court was left with "no choice" to pass a discretionary life sentence because of Mitchell's continued denial and having shown "no remorse at all".
Mitchell had previously been subject to a rape investigation in 2017, which had resulted in no further action, the Met Police had said.
Following his arrest in 2023, 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.
"you are a serious danger to every woman walking the streets"
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."
Mitchell, of Wandsworth, south-west London, was a Pc in the Met's West Area Basic Command Unit.
He was serving in Hounslow when a number of the offences were committed, the Met Police had said.
He was suspended from the force after the allegations came to light and was dismissed in December 2023.
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