Female victims of rapist policeman launch fight to win compensation

Serious injury specialists have launched civil claims for damages against Northumbria Police after the rogue officer's conviction this week.

The force said each case would be considered carefully and that Mitchell, of Glasgow, must bear responsibility for his crimes.

Mitchell, 42, was found guilty of two charges of rape, three indecent assaults involving vulnerable women and six counts of misconduct in a public office following a six-week trial at Newcastle's High Court.

He faces life in jail after targeting vulnerable women he arrested while on duty at Newcastle's Pilgrim Street police station.

Serious injury specialist Lindsey Houghton, from the North-east office of Irwin Mitchell, has now commenced civil claims for damages on behalf of his victims, who are upholding their right to anonymity. She said: "The civil cases are at an early stage but we are making claims for damages for sexual assault, false imprisonment and breach of human rights.

"Mitchell was in a position of trust and authority and he abused that position, taking advantage of vulnerable young women in the most horrific way imaginable. We will never be able to remove the memories and the lasting damage that he caused, but we hope to be able to provide our clients with some comfort as they try to get their lives back on track."

Although there are strict time limits for bringing claims of this type, Houghton said it was possible in some cases - such as those involving historic abuse - to ask for special leave to bring a claim out of time.