Police force 'sorry' for serious failings over sex-abuse officer

Northumbria Police admitted serious failings left Pc Stephen Mitchell free to attack drug addicts and shoplifters he arrested while on duty at Newcastle's Pilgrim Street police station.

The officer had been investigated but not prosecuted on three separate occasions after complaints about his behaviour, and it emerged the former soldier was prosecuted but acquitted at a court in Edinburgh for a serious sexual offence, before becoming a Pc. He had lied on his application and the charge remained a secret.

The 42-year-old faces life in jail after being convicted yesterday of rape and indecent assault. He had denied all the charges against him, claiming the 16 women who made complaints about his behaviour were liars.

He was cleared on Friday of three counts of rape, two indecent assaults and two counts of misconduct in a public office but yesterday the jury at Newcastle Crown Court convicted him of two charges of rape and three indecent assault; on Tuesday he was found guilty of six counts of misconduct in a public office but cleared of seven other counts of misconduct and one of assault.

Speaking at a Press conference following the verdicts, temporary deputy Chief Constable Jim Campbell said Mitchell was an evil and manipulative man.

"I want to apologise to everyone who has been subject to criminal or inappropriate behaviour by Mitchell during his time as a serving officer with Northumbria Police. The public quite rightly expect that the officers and staff of Northumbria Police adhere to the highest possible standards of professional conduct and place immense trust in them.

"The actions and behaviour of Mitchell fall well below those standards. Mitchell let both the public and his colleagues down. There is no place in the police service for such evil and manipulative behaviour.

"The actions of Mitchell are even more despicable as the public placed its trust in him and he chose to deliberately abuse this trust."

He said the officer lied on his application to Northumbria Police by not revealing his arrest and prosecution in Edinburgh, and the officer, from Glasgow, would have been caught sooner had previous allegations against him been investigated differently.

DCI Chris Sharman, who led the investigation, described Mitchell as a devious, calculating rapist, adding "He is all these things and is a very evil, clever man."

Mitchell had a hold over one woman for three-and-a-half years, even trying to keep her on heroin after she had quit, which only ended when she went into hiding after he raped her in handcuffs at her home.

Another woman was locked in a patrol car and raped after she was arrested for theft. Mitchell promised the woman, who was addicted to heroin, he would help her regain custody of her children.

Others were flattered then propositioned while still in custody with a view to beginning sexual relations later.

Mitchell claimed the women colluded against him after a rumour which he said had been made up by one claimant was picked up by others in a criminal fraternity.

During his trial, it emerged that the force punished him when it was discovered he had sex with a woman he had met as part of his duties but he kept his job.

He was also disciplined for looking up his wife's new friends on the force computer after the couple separated.

Trial judge Mr Justice Wilkie postponed sentencing Mitchell until January 11, requesting psychiatric and sex offender reports.