A former Metropolitan Police officer, Cliff Mitchell, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 13 years and 225 days for a series of rapes, including three of a child under 13. The 24-year-old, from Wandsworth, south-west London, was convicted of 10 counts of rape, three counts of rape of a child under 13, kidnap, and breach of a non-molestation order.
Mitchell, who was a serving PC in Hounslow at the time of some offences, kidnapped and raped one victim while armed with a knife in September 2023, tying her with cable ties and taping her mouth. He laughed at her, called her a slut, and said no one would believe her because he was a police officer.
The court heard that Mitchell had been investigated for rape in 2017 but no action was taken. After his 2023 arrest, that case was reopened, leading to additional charges. Mrs Justice May said his crimes required a life sentence due to his desire for control, noting his status as a police officer would make imprisonment harsher.
Victims described Mitchell as 'the devil' and 'a pathetic excuse of a man'. One said: 'You deserve to spend the rest of your life in a cell because you are a serious danger to every woman walking the streets.' Both suffer from PTSD.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper called the case a 'total system failure', questioning how Mitchell was vetted after a previous rape investigation. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said under reformed vetting, Mitchell would not have been cleared, and the force continues to improve its vetting unit.
