Met Police officer convicted of kidnap, rape and rape of child

Cliff Mitchell, 24, from Putney, was a serving officer when a number of the offences were committed. 

On September 5 last year Mitchell attended the address of a woman who he raped at knifepoint before blindfolding her with his hooded top, tying her hands with cable ties and forcing her into his car. 

She managed to escape from the vehicle on Longfield Avenue in Hackbridge, Sutton, and approached a member of the public who let her into her car before calling 999. 

An alert was put out for Mitchell’s car and he was stopped and arrested around seven miles away in Putney. 

Mitchell had previously been the subject of a rape investigation in 2017. 

That investigation resulted in no further action. 

But following his arrest the case was re-investigated and 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. 

On Wednesday (February 21) Mitchell was found guilty by a jury at Croydon Crown Court. 

Cliff Mitchell (Image: Met Police)

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: “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.”