A former Metropolitan Police officer, now sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple rapes, has been labeled by his victims as “the devil” and a “serious threat to every woman.”
Cliff Mitchell, aged 24, was convicted of 10 counts of rape, three counts of raping a child under 13, one count of kidnapping, and breaching a non-molestation order after a trial at Croydon Crown Court.
The crimes, spanning from 2014 to 2023, resulted in a minimum sentence of 13 years and 225 days. Described by the judge as “clearly a deeply troubled young man,” Mitchell will remain on lifelong license if ever released.
Hailing from Wandsworth, London, Mitchell served in Hounslow during some of the offenses, according to the Metropolitan Police. Following the revelation of the allegations, he was suspended from duty and ultimately dismissed in December 2023.
The court heard harrowing details of how Mitchell kidnapped and raped one victim at knifepoint in September 2023, coercing her to submit and restraining her with tape after commanding her to place her arms behind her back.
During the trial, jurors learned of another victim’s narrow escape, as she fabricated feeling sick to flee Mitchell’s car, eventually being spotted by passersby running through traffic.
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.”
Another victim described Mitchell as “a contemptible specimen of a man.” In 2017, Mitchell had been investigated for rape, but no further action was taken.
However, following his arrest in 2023, the case was reopened, leading to additional charges of three counts of rape of a child under 13 and three counts of rape.
Sentencing Mitchell, Mrs Justice May said 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”.
The judge added: “The fact he was a police officer, albeit for a short time, will make imprisonment a harsher experience for him.”
