Former Met police officer who carried out 13 rapes and told one victim he was "the devil" jailed for life

1 May 2024, 13:11 | Updated: 1 May 2024, 13:51

Cliff Mitchell
Cliff Mitchell. Picture: Facebook

By Kit Heren

A former serving Met Police officer who carried out 13 rapes and told his victim "you've met the devil" as he tied her up and kidnapped her in a car has been jailed for life

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Cliff Mitchell was sentenced to life with a minimum of 14 years for 10 counts of rape, three counts of rape of a child under 13, one count of kidnap and breach of a non-molestation order.

Mitchell, 24, approached one of his victims with a knife in September 2023 before telling her to put her arms behind her back and tying her arms up with cables. He also put tape over her mouth.

Rapist Cliff Mitchell, 24, told one of his victims he was 'the devil'
Rapist Cliff Mitchell, 24, told one of his victims he was 'the devil'. Picture: Met Police

Read More: Met police officer 'tied up victim and threatened to stab her', court hears, as he faces 13 counts of rape

Read More: 139 Met officers reinvestigated for rape and sexual abuse after being allowed to keep jobs

The 24-year-old, of Wandsworth, was a serving as an officer in Hounslow when a number of the offences occurred. He was later dismissed from the Met in December 2023 following an accelerated misconduct hearing.

On September 5 2023, Mitchell had attended the address of a woman who he raped at knifepoint before blindfolding her, tying her hands with cables and forcing her into his car.

The woman managed to escape the vehicle in Hackbridge, south London, where a member of the public let her into their car so she could call 999.

Police put out an alert for the officer and he was arrested in Putney.

He had joined the force in August 2021, despite being investigated for six counts of rape against a child four years earlier - and was not re-vetted as part of Operation Onyx, the force's plan to review allegations of sexual abuse from the past 10 years.

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

The Met confirmed that all serving officers and staff identified as having being arrested for rape before joining are now being dealt with under Operation Onyx - a change that was a direct consequence of Mitchell's arrest.

However, questions have been raised about whether their investigations will include officers accused of rape and sexual assault prior to their employment, a point which the Met refused to comment on.

The PC, who worked in Hounslow, West London, told his victim nobody would believe her because he was a police officer, as he blindfolded her and bundled her into his car.

LBC revealed Mitchell started his officer training in August 2021.

That was after the Met decided to take no further action against him for allegations of rape in 2017.

Following his arrest in September 2023, that investigation was reopened and he was charged with six counts of raping a child - including three when she was under 13.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said after the verdict: “This is a truly shocking case and I am sickened by Mitchell’s abhorrent behaviour and the pain he has caused the victims, who have shown enormous bravery by coming forward and giving evidence in court.

“It is down to their courage that he has been convicted and faces a significant custodial sentence. I would also like to recognise the brave member of the public who came to the aid of one of the victims as she ran from Mitchell’s car.

“Mitchell not only carried out a sustained campaign of abuse against both of his victims, but he told one of them she would never be believed due to the fact he was a police officer. This brazen abuse of power makes Mitchell’s actions all the more deplorable.

“I know this is another case which will impact the confidence people have in us. We are doing more than we have done in decades to rid the Met of those who corrupt our integrity, including investing millions of pounds into our professional standards team and bringing in additional officers and staff with specialist skills and experience to investigate criminality and misconduct.

“Part of that is dismissing officers who should not be here at the earliest opportunity. Mitchell was dismissed from the Met in December 2023 - we did not wait for his conviction today.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Rob and Lindsey Burrow a few weeks before he died

Rob Burrow's wife reveals heartbreaking moment she knew rugby league star 'couldn't go on' with MND struggle

Axel Rudakubana will be 'target number one' in prison

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana's sentence won't be referred to Court of Appeal despite claims it's 'unduly lenient'

The damaged shield

'Risk of radioactive leak' after Russian 'high explosive' drone hits Chernobyl, causing 'significant damage'

The fire broke out at the Chiltern Firehouse

Fire engulfs celebrity haunt Chiltern Firehouse as 100 evacuated from luxury hotel

Trump confirms he will meet Starmer in Washington 'in the next few weeks'

Trump to meet with Starmer in Washington 'in the next few weeks' - as JD Vance slams Europe in fiery speech

Both Meghan and Kate shared Valentine's pictures

Harry and Meghan share sweet Valentine's photo after William and Kate also post romantic picture

Jaden Sheriff.

Man found guilty of killing ex-girlfriend's neighbour over 'blue balls', sentenced to life imprisonment

The woman was attacked by a shark

Horror as woman loses both hands after being mauled by shark as husband desperately fights it off

United States Vice-President JD Vance, second right, meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, third left, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Munich

'Putin is a liar': Zelenskyy's warning to Trump as Ukraine's leader voices concern over 'risky' phone calls with Russia

Addenbrookes hospital, Cambridge

Children's surgeon suspended after nine operations fall 'below standards' in Cambridge

Lesley Joseph refuses to discuss Pauline Quirke's dementia diagnosis.

'I won't talk about her at the moment': Lesley Joseph refuses to discuss Pauline Quirke's dementia diagnosis

Ada Bikakci

Girl, 9, killed after being hit by London bus, as driver charged with driving while drunk or on drugs

Exclusive
A small group of secondary school pupils working on practical experiments in a chemistry lab.

Ministers should consider shortening school holidays and letting teachers work from home, union chief says

JD Vance

Free speech is 'in retreat' across Europe, claims JD Vance - as US brands it a 'bigger threat than Russia'

oxford street with shoppers

Two arrested in Oxford St 'celebrity romance scam' after victims coerced into sending £200k to 'well-known boyfriends'

What if Ukraine were the UK? Could you accept surrendering a fifth of our country to Putin after so much sacrifice?

What if Ukraine were the UK? Could you accept surrendering a fifth of our country to Putin after so much sacrifice?