A former Merseyside Matrix officer whose rape attack was captured by his victim on an audio recording app has been jailed. Ryan Theaker, 30, was a serving police constable when he sexually assaulted his victim and then raped her.
The quick-thinking of the woman ultimately built the case against Theaker, with nearly 85 minutes of the "prolonged and degrading" assault and her repeated pleas for the drunken abuser to stop captured on an audio recorder on her phone. The harrowing audio of the rape was played during Theaker's trial and revealed the dad-of-one's sexual demands while his victim told him more than 300 times to get off her.
Sentence passed at Liverpool Crown Court
Theaker, of Park Lane in Netherton, was convicted by a jury of rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration. Returning to Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, he was deemed to be a dangerous offender and an extended sentence was passed to protect the public against him in the future.
Theaker did not react as he was sentenced to 11 years in prison with a further five years on licence.
Sentencing, Judge Brian 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."
Details of the assault
Gareth Roberts, prosecuting, told the trial jury that the hotel rape happened in late 2023. Mr Roberts said: "He told her that he wanted to have sex, and she told him that she didn't want to and that wasn't going to happen."
"He told her that he wanted to take explicit photos of her naked and started to get his camera out, but, again [she said no to this]. He produced some sex toys that he had brought in a JD bag and told her that he wanted to use them on her."
"She again refused, saying that was not what she wanted. She was now so worried that something horrible was going to happen that she activated a recording app on her phone that recorded what happened in the room."
During the audio of the rape Theaker belched, hiccupped and slurred his words making sexual demands. The victim told Theaker: "Who do you think you are? You're raping me." She added: "I'm telling you I don't want it and you're still [raping me]."
The jury heard Theaker had downed at least eight pints by the time of the assault.
Mr Roberts told the jury: "The defendant [refused] to listen to her, or comply with her wishes… and we hear him threatening her, telling her to move her hands and expose her breasts to him, so that he could photograph her and touch her. And then we hear her say, clearly, 'get out of me'." Mr Roberts said it was "absolutely clear that she is not consenting."
Victim's impact statement
In a police interview, played to the jury, Theaker's victim said: "I was crying saying f*** off. I don't want [to]. I was lying on the bed, the music was still blaring."
"I was hoping someone was in the room next door. I was saying you deserve to be locked up."
In a victim impact statement which she read to the court, the woman, whose identity is protected, said: "I always thought when I was younger that monsters were big horrible nasty creatures who weren't even real. I remember reading a post that said, 'even Scooby Doo taught us the real monsters were always the people'."
"That is exactly what he is. A monster. 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."
"It is true his actions will always impact my life. I'll always be physically and emotionally damaged. 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."
Defence and police response
Jenny Tallentire, defending, told the court: "Not only is [Theaker] of previous good character but he was, and I hope this is unarguable, an excellent police officer. He was proud to be a police officer…the consequences of his actions don't just bring him here, but he will lose his ability to continue in that line of work. He has not been a police officer since summer last year."
The court heard despite Theaker's denials at trial he now accepted the offences.
Ms Tallentire said: "He has described how he has felt hearing those recordings, how he has begun to reflect on the impact of that behaviour on her. He has talked about his own shame, his own embarrassment."
"He has always had limited recollection, but hearing it has been shocking for him. He has accepted responsibility and recognised his behaviour was unacceptable."
Theaker, who wore a grey suit and sported a bald head and dark beard, will serve at least two thirds of his 11-year custodial sentence before he is eligible for release. He will then be subject of stringent licence conditions for five years plus the unserved part of his custodial sentence.
Theaker will also be on the sex offenders' register for life and subject to an indefinite restraining order against his victim and members of her family.
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 said: "The behaviour for which Theaker has been convicted and sentenced has no place in society, and certainly not within policing. I want to be clear that his contemptible behaviour is in no way representative of the attitude or behaviour of officers and staff at Merseyside Police."
Theaker's former colleagues, and the force, have all been left shocked and disgusted by his actions and the long-term impact they have had on his victim.
