Cliff Mitchell: The serial rapist police officer
Cops Gone BadThe new series of Cops Gone Bad with Will Mellor delves into the ultimate betrayal of trust: when serving police officers abandon their duty and commit horrific crimes. Series two starts Monday, 17th February on Crime+Investigation.
Police officers protect the public and keep us safe in times of danger. That’s why stories about corrupt officers who abuse their power are always so shocking.
Cliff Mitchell is one such ex-police officer who abused his position of trust to commit various heinous crimes.
Here at Crime+Investigation, we’re going to take a deep dive into the crimes of Cliff Mitchell to examine exactly what he did and how he was sentenced.
Who is Cliff Mitchell?
Little is known about the early life of Cliff Mitchell before he began offending. Hailing from Putney in Wandsworth, Mitchell joined the London Metropolitan Police in August 2021.
One interesting element of the case is that Mitchell had previously been subject to a rape investigation in 2017. No further action was taken, but it's telling that he was allowed into the force in 2021 despite these investigations.
The crimes of Cliff Mitchell
Cliff Mitchell was convicted of various crimes, most of them of a sexual nature. His crimes include rape, violations of non-molestation orders, and kidnapping.
Mitchell not only committed these heinous crimes, but he also subjected his victims to terrifying behaviour. One such incident occurred on 5th September 2023.
On this day, Mitchell attended the home of a woman and raped her at knifepoint. He threatened her family if she tried to get help before blindfolding her, putting tape on her mouth, forcing her arms behind her back, and tying her up with cable ties.
Mitchell forced his victim into his car by threatening her once again with a knife. However, she managed to escape while they were driving on Longfield Avenue in Hackbridge. The victim was helped by a passerby, who let her into their car and called 999.
He used his position of authority as a police officer to intimidate her and make her feel like no one would ever believe her due to his role as an officer.
During the trial, the jury was told about Mitchell’s callous behaviour. He subjected his victim to verbal abuse, mocking and laughing as she cried. He also insulted her by calling her a 'slut' and was said to have told her, 'I don’t care about my life anymore, you’ve met the devil'.
The arrest of Cliff Mitchell
It was this kidnapping plot that led to Mitchell’s arrest. He was arrested by the police following an alert put out for his vehicle. He was around seven miles away from Putney at the time.
Officers from the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Offending team were sent to search his car. They recovered a hooded top, which had been used to blindfold the victim.
A search was also conducted at the address linked to Mitchell. At the home, they found a bag of cable ties that were similar to the ones that the victim had described.
Following his arrest, Mitchell was immediately suspended from his position at the Metropolitan Police and put into custody.
Mitchell’s previous investigation of rape back in 2017 was reopened after his arrest.
The conviction of Cliff Mitchell
On 1st May 2024, Cliff Mitchell was convicted at Croydon Crown Court. His convictions include 10 counts of rape, three counts of rape of a child under 13, one count of kidnap and a breach of a non-molestation order.
These charges include three counts of rape between 2014 and 2017 and seven counts of rape against the same victim between April 2020 to September 2023. Mitchell pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.
Mitchell was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 13 years to be served. This sentence was increased following a judicial review in July 2024, with an extra four years – making for a total of 17 years – being added due to the severity of his crimes.
Cliff Mitchell is a man who truly used and abused his role as a police officer. His story acts as a reminder that vigilance is always necessary to protect those who need it, especially when it comes to institutions that hold a significant amount of power.
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