Policeman Stephen Mitchell is accused of raping five women while he was on duty

Sexual predator Stephen Mitchell deliberately chose vulnerable victims who would not be believed if they complained, it is claimed. As he molested one woman while searching her next to his patrol car, the 42-year-old is said to have bragged: “I am the law – I can do anything”. He told another victim: “No one is going to believe a thief.” EXPRESS OFFER: CLAIM £15 IN FREE BETS HERE! But yesterday he appeared in the dock after 16 women complained. Mitchell denies five allegations of rape, six of indecent assault and 15 of misconduct in a public office between 1999 and 2006. One victim was a masters ­student who was handcuffed and raped over a sofa, heard Newcastle Crown Court.Another was a 17-year-old with emotional problems who he is said to have ­fondled on the charge desk in the juvenile detention area of his police station.

He is also accused of taking 20-year-old escort girl ­Carrieanne Downs to have sex in his car before giving her heroin. Other women were forced to perform oral sex and other acts in cells, a fingerprint room and interview rooms, and he had sex with victims in cars or in their homes, the jury was told. In return, it is claimed he offered to drop charges. He promised to get one woman’s children out of care. Prosecutor Paul Sloan QC said Mitchell, who was based at Newcastle upon Tyne’s Pilgrim Street station, was confident of never being caught because he picked desperate women he thought would not be believed. He said: “Each of the complainants was a vulnerable female, whether because of drug abuse, health ­problems, domestic circumstances or a combination of those factors.

“The defendant took advantage of their vulnerabilities, usually providing or offering favours, but requesting – and in some cases requiring by force – sexual favours in return.” Mitchell is said to have encountered the masters student when she was 21 and addicted to heroin. He threatened to expose her for an alleged role in a Post Office fraud. After two years, she had completed rehab and had started college. Mr Sloan said she agreed to meet Mitchell because he had promised to hand over “evidence”, but he became “angry, abusive and violent”, ­handcuffing her and raping her. The defendant was confident the women would not report him “because who would believe the word of a thief and drug addict against that of a ­serving police officer?” said Mr Sloan.