Ex-Cop Jailed for Rape of Woman Met Online
A serving police officer has been locked up for eight years after raping a woman he met on a dating site. PC Stuart Mines, 49, committed the brutal assault at his Devon home while off-duty in October 2022.
Shocking Betrayal of Trust
Mines, who served more than two decades with Devon and Cornwall Police, was convicted by a jury and dismissed from the force. The victim described the horrific impact in a powerful statement, revealing how the attack has shattered her life.
“Emotionally, I’ve been a total wreck. I’ve spent endless nights unable to sleep, feeling worthless and violated by the actions of this horrid person. Mines has ripped my confidence away.”
She added that police sirens and officers now trigger panic attacks and nausea, constantly reminding her of the trauma. She also detailed her heartbreak over being betrayed by someone sworn to protect:
“I trusted him because he was a police officer, but he broke the law, he raped, lied, and treated me with such disdain, being abusive and humiliating me whilst he laughed and thought it was funny, laughing at my distress.”
Judge Slams ‘Severe and Extreme’ Impact
At Exeter Crown Court, Judge Stephen Climie condemned Mines’ appalling actions, saying the rape “tore apart” the victim’s life. He called the assault’s impact “severe, some might say extreme,” noting the abuse of position made the crime worse.
“You have betrayed the public trust,” the Judge said, emphasising that Mines’ offending should not tarnish the wider police force. He praised Devon and Cornwall Constabulary for maintaining integrity and professionalism.
Prison Life Tough for Fallen Officer
Mines’ lawyer Kelly Scrivener admitted prison has been harsh for her client, with other inmates knowing he was a cop. The publicity around the case made his time behind bars tougher.
Lifelong Punishments
- Mines jailed for eight years
- Placed on sex offenders’ register for life
- Hit with an indefinite restraining order barring contact with the victim
The sickening case exposes the darkest side of those meant to protect us — and highlights the ongoing fight to hold offenders accountable, no matter their job.
