A former Metropolitan Police officer, Cliff Mitchell, who was convicted of repeatedly raping a woman and a child, had his sentence extended after attempting to appeal the punishment. Mitchell, 24, was originally sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 13 years and 225 days for his crimes, but his application to have the sentence reduced resulted in an even harsher penalty.
Mitchell, who was found guilty of 10 counts of rape and three counts of raping a child under 13, had described his initial sentence as “manifestly excessive” and applied for leave to appeal. However, the Solicitor General referred the sentence as “unduly lenient” at the same time.
During a Court of Appeal hearing on July 25, judges not only refused Mitchell’s request to reduce his sentence but also extended his minimum term to 17 years and 225 days.
The court previously heard harrowing victim impact statements during Mitchell’s trial. One of his victims addressed him directly, saying, “You disgust me. I hope you suffer for the rest of your life.” Another victim told Mitchell, “You are a pathetic excuse of a man.
The trial revealed the extent of Mitchell’s crimes, including an incident where he forced one of his victims into his car. The victim managed to escape by pretending to be sick and later ran through traffic in desperation before being rescued by a passer-by. In a 999 call played to the court, the distressed woman told the operator, “He’s kidnapped me.
Mitchell had previously been under investigation for rape in 2017, which resulted in no further action at the time. However, following his arrest in 2023, the case was reopened, leading to additional charges related to a second victim. These charges included three counts of raping a child under 13 and three additional counts of rape, occurring between 2014 and 2017.
In the sentencing hearing, one of the victim’s statements emphasized the ongoing trauma caused by Mitchell’s actions, stating, “You deserve to spend the rest of your life in a cell because you are a serious danger to every woman walking the streets.
Mitchell, who served as a police constable in the Met’s West Area Basic Command Unit and was based in Hounslow when many of the offences were committed, was suspended from the force after the allegations came to light. He was officially dismissed in December 2023.
The court heard that the victims continue to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other significant struggles in their daily lives as a result of Mitchell’s crimes. Despite his attempts to appeal, the extension of his sentence reflects the gravity of his offences and the impact on his victims.
