Serving Met police officer ‘tied woman’s hands behind her back and raped her while holding a knife to her throat before she managed to escape from his car’
- PC Clifford Mitchell, 23, charged with six rapes and one of making threats to kill
A serving Met Police officer tied a woman’s hands behind her back and raped her as he held a knife to her throat, a court has heard.
PC Clifford Mitchell is also charged with one count of making threats to kill and one count of breaching a non-molestation order.
The 23-year-old, who was attached to the West Area Basic Command Unit before being suspended, appeared in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court but did not enter a plea.
Prosecutor David Burns said Mitchell had tied the woman’s hands behind her back on September 5 and assaulted her with the knife to her throat.
‘He said he would kill her if she screamed out and at one point put tape around her mouth. He said if she tried to run, he would stab her.’
The court heard the woman was forced into Mitchell’s car but managed to escape, telling the officer she ‘felt sick’, before running down a neighbouring street.
Witnesses saw Mitchell then catch up with her and attempt to drag her to back to his car, it is claimed.
A member of the public who was driving past stopped her car before rescuing the woman, bringing her into her own vehicle and calling the police.
District Judge Briony Clarke said: ‘Mr Mitchell, as you are aware, these are matters that are too serious to be dealt with at this court. They are serious allegations, of serious offending.’
District judge Briony Clarke sent the case to Croydon Crown Court on October 5.
The probe was sparked when police were called at 1.50pm yesterday by a member of the public who had found a woman in distress in Hackbridge.
They were told she had been attacked inside a residential property by a man who subsequently forced her into a car. They were known to one another.
Urgent enquiries were carried out and it was established that the suspect was a serving Met officer.
He was not on-duty at the time of the incident or his arrest.
PC Mitchell, currently part way through his police constable training degree, has been suspended from duty and a referral has been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: ‘These are horrific allegations and the victim is being supported by specially trained officers.
‘Officers from the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards are investigating. They are highly experienced detectives specialising in investigating domestic abuse and sexual offences.
‘This is an active investigation and enquiries continue at pace.’
‘The arrest of a serving police officer on suspicion of such serious offences is extremely concerning and I recognise will cause considerable concern among London’s communities. I share those concerns and have made an immediate referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.’
