A serving Metropolitan Police has been jailed for life after raping a child multiple times, as well as raping and kidnapping a woman years later. Cliff Mitchell, 24, from Putney, kidnapped and raped a woman at knifepoint in September 2023, while he was a serving officer.
And years earlier, in April 2017, a child reported she had been raped by Mitchell several times over the course of four years, between 2014 and 2017. At the time, Mitchell was arrested and released on bail pending further enquiries. The case initially resulted in no further action. He had not yet applied to join the police at this stage.
Mitchell applied to join the Metropolitan Police in 2020 and started his training in August 2021. On finishing training school, he worked as a neighbourhoods officer in Hounslow between June 2022 and May 2023, before joining the response team.
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And while he was a serving officer, on Tuesday, September 5 2023, Mitchell went to a woman’s house where he raped her at knifepoint. A court heard that he then blindfolded her with his hooded top, tied her hands with cable ties and put tape over her mouth before forcing her into his car.
The court also 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.
The woman managed to escape from the car in South London where a passerby then noticed what was happening and let the victim into their car before calling 999. In a 999 call played to the court, the distressed woman told the operator “he’s kidnapped me”.
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 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.
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”. “I am left with nothing which might allow me confidently to say whether or when the danger which Cliff Mitchell represents will lessen,” the judge said. “At present, therefore, I am sure that he will continue to be a danger into the future.”
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Following Mitchell’s arrest in 2023, the claims against the 24-year-old from 2017 were 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.
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 was suspended from the Metropolitan Police force after the allegations came to light and was dismissed in December 2023. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: “Mitchell’s victims have been enormously courageous, not only in initially reporting him to police but by giving evidence in court. Their bravery, as well as that of the witness who stopped to help at the scene, was rightly commended by the judge today.
“The victim statements read out in court clearly demonstrate the lifelong impact Mitchell’s offending has had and will continue to have on the rest of their lives. The fact he abused his power as an officer as part of his attempt to manipulate them is even more abhorrent.
“We understand the concerns around Mitchell being cleared to join the Met after an initial report of rape was made in 2017 and the questions this inevitably raises. Under our reformed vetting approach, Mitchell would not be granted vetting clearance and be able to join the Met.
“We continue to reform and invest in our vetting unit, which today is larger, better equipped and staffed by people who are showing greater professional curiosity, diligence and determination than ever before.”
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