Met Police: Officer in court charged with six counts of rape

PC Cliff Mitchell was remanded into custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court

A Met Police officer has appeared in court charged with six counts of raping a woman, threatening to kill her and breaching a non-molestation order.

PC Cliff Mitchell, 23, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court, which heard he held the woman at knifepoint. He was remanded into custody.

A member of the public saw a woman in distress on Tuesday, and helped her into her car, the court was told.

PC Mitchell is due to appear at Croydon Crown Court on 5 October.

The woman was found at about 13:50 BST in the street in Hackbridge, Sutton, south-west London.

An investigation was launched and the Met said it was established that its suspect was PC Mitchell, who was arrested. He was not on duty at the time.

PC Mitchell was at the end of his second year of a three-year apprenticeship with the Metropolitan Police, the court heard.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy described the allegations as "horrific"

The Met said a referral had been made to the police watchdog over the case and that the officer had been suspended from duty.

Speaking before the court hearing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: "These are horrific allegations and the victim is being supported by specially trained officers.

"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.

"This is an active investigation and inquiries continue at pace."

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