A former Merseyside Police officer has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after a jury convicted him of rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration. Ryan Theaker, 30, of Park Lane in Netherton, attacked a woman in a hotel in late 2023, with the ordeal lasting more than an hour. The victim secretly recorded the assault on her phone, and those recordings were played during the trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
Theaker, who previously served with the Matrix unit, did not react as Judge Brian Cummings KC passed the sentence on Thursday. The judge deemed Theaker a dangerous offender and imposed an extended sentence, adding a further five years on licence to the 11-year custodial term. Theaker must serve at least two-thirds of that sentence before he is eligible for release.
Secret recordings captured the attack
The victim activated a recording app on her phone because she was worried something horrible was going to happen, prosecutor Gareth Roberts told the jury. The audio captured nearly 85 minutes of what the prosecution described as a "prolonged and degrading" assault. During the recording, Theaker can be heard belching, hiccupping and slurring his words while making sexual demands.
Mr Roberts said Theaker told the victim he wanted to have sex, and she told him she did not want that to happen. He then tried to take explicit photos of her naked and produced sex toys he had brought in a JD bag, saying he wanted to use them on her. She refused each request. The jury heard Theaker had drunk at least eight pints before the assault.
On the recording, the victim can be heard saying: "Who do you think you are? You're raping me," and "I'm telling you I don't want it and you're still [raping me]." Mr Roberts told the jury that Theaker threatened her, told her to move her hands and expose her breasts, and that it was "absolutely clear that she is not consenting."
Victim's impact statement and judge's remarks
In a victim impact statement read to the court, the woman, whose identity is protected, described Theaker as "a monster" and said: "The monster never wins. I hope by reporting and bringing this criminal to justice that I have protected a woman from enduring what I have by the hands of him as people like him have no place in society." She added: "He wasn't successful in fully breaking me. Of course, I have to rebuild pieces that he did manage to break but those pieces are so much stronger than before. I am not afraid."
Judge Cummings KC said: "During parts of her ordeal she secretly made recordings on an app. The recordings were played during the trial. I agree with the prosecution's description of them as harrowing." He added: "I'm quite sure your behaviour made a substantial contribution to her decision to try to kill herself. I'm sure you were a large measure for that suicide attempt."
Defence and police response
Jenny Tallentire, defending, told the court that Theaker was of previous good character and had been "an excellent police officer" who was proud to serve. She said he had not been a police officer since summer last year and that hearing the recordings had been "shocking for him," leading him to accept responsibility and recognise his behaviour was unacceptable.
Detective Sergeant Matthew McGuinness said: "We know the public will rightly be shocked that these crimes have been committed by a now former police officer, but I want them to be reassured that Merseyside Police remains committed to protecting anyone who has been subjected to violence, sexual abuse or inappropriate behaviour and bringing their abusers to justice." Assistant Chief Constable Karen Jaundrill added: "The behaviour for which Theaker has been convicted and sentenced has no place in society, and certainly not within policing."
Theaker will be on the sex offenders' register for life and is subject to an indefinite restraining order protecting his victim and her family. He will also face stringent licence conditions for five years plus the unserved part of his custodial sentence.
