Rapist police officer jailed for life

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

A former police officer who raped and sexually assaulted vulnerable women he had arrested was jailed for life today.

Stephen Mitchell, 42, who was a constable with Northumbria police, was convicted last November of two rapes, three indecent assaults and six counts of misconduct in a public office. He was cleared of three rapes, two indecent assaults and two counts of misconduct.

Mitchell was given two life sentences today and told he would not be eligible for parole for at least seven-and-a-half years.

The five-week trial at Newcastle crown court heard he preyed on women he met while on duty.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jan/11/rapist-police-officer-life-sentence

[derby378]

1. Something tells me he wouldn't receive the same sentence on our side of the pond

We need to work on that. Seriously.

[Sinistrous]

4. Sob ...

It breaks my heart to have to agree with you. Too many police get away with too many crimes.

[defendandprotect]

6. Agree ---

[valerief]

2. So I guess now he'll be raped for life. nt

[Johnyawl]

3. This is the kind of crap that turn people to rightwing, lock 'em-up-and-throw-away-the-key thinking

Mitchell was given two life sentences today and told he would not be eligible for parole for at least seven-and-a-half years.

In all likelyhood the asshole will be back on the street before he's 50.

[Heywood J]

5. Pretty much.

How can the crime be bad enough to merit two life sentences, yet he can be eligible for parole after less than eight years? That's effectively an eight year sentence.

[canetoad]

7. If you read this guys history

and the way he operated (blackmail, coercion), I doubt he will be granted parole for a long time after the non-parole period is up.

[udbcrzy2]

8. That's fucked up

I wonder what conditions he would have to meet before he got paroled? I also wonder what the victims will have to do to be sure he isn't paroled.