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Rouge PC Stephen Mitchell was today facing years behind bars after he was convicted of two rapes and three indecent assaults.

After nearly a week of deliberations, jurors at Newcastle Crown Court convicted him of raping two women and carrying out three further indecent assaults.

Mitchell, 42, formerly of Whitley Bay, had targeted vulnerable women he met while on duty from his base at Pilgrim Street Police Station in Newcastle.

Out of total of 26 charges, he was convicted of two rapes, three indecent assaults and six offences of misconduct in public office.

During a five-week trial, the prosecution said Mitchell preyed on heroin addicts, shoplifters and a disabled teenager by offering them help while in custody, then demanding sexual favours afterwards.

He 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, it was alleged.

The woman, now in her 30s, was locked in a patrol car and raped after she was arrested for theft.

Mitchell had promised the woman, who was addicted to heroin, he would help her regain custody of her children in return for favours.

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

He paid one £20 for sex after arresting the 27-year-old heroin addict on suspicion of shoplifting.

He told another, a 21-year-old heroin addict: "You see what you do to us," and groped her while sat in a patrol car in Newcastle.

Others were flattered then propositioned while still in custody with a view to beginning sexual relations later, the jury was told.

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 close-knit criminal fraternity.

The officer, from Glasgow, claimed: "These people will grab any opportunity they can."

But the jury rejected his version of events. Mitchell stood motionless and stared straight ahead as the verdicts were read out.

Each of today’s guilty verdicts was found by a majority of 10 to two jurors, after 23 hours and 23 minutes deliberation.

Trial judge Mr Justice Wilkie later postponed sentencing Mitchell until January 11.

He said he wanted to see psychiatric and sex offender reports before passing sentence but told the court he was considering an indeterminate sentence for public protection.

He praised the police for the "patient and professional way in which they investigated the case and coaxed these very damaged women to give their evidence in court".

The judge added: "It’s of the highest importance that when such people do make complaints of ill-treatment which are well-founded that they are taken seriously and properly investigated."