A former Merseyside Police officer has been jailed for 11 years after a woman secretly recorded nearly 85 minutes of her rape in a hotel room on her phone.
Ryan Theaker, 30, of Park Lane in Netherton, was a serving Matrix officer when he attacked the woman in late 2023. He was convicted by a jury of rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration. Returning to Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, he was deemed a dangerous offender and given an extended sentence to protect the public.
Secret recordings build the case
The victim activated a recording app on her phone because she was worried something horrible was going to happen. The audio captured her repeated pleas for Theaker to stop, with the woman telling him more than 300 times to get off her, the Liverpool Echo reports.
During the recording, Theaker belched, hiccupped and slurred his words while making sexual demands. The victim told him: "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]."
Prosecutor Gareth Roberts told the jury that Theaker had downed at least eight pints by the time of the assault. He said: "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."
Sentencing and victim impact
Theaker did not react as he was sentenced to 11 years in prison with a further five years on licence. He will serve at least two thirds of the custodial term before he is eligible for release. He will also be on the sex offenders' register for life and subject to an indefinite restraining order against his victim and her family.
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."
In a victim impact statement 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."
She added: "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."
Police response
Jenny Tallentire, defending, told the court Theaker was of previous good character and an excellent police officer who was proud to serve. She said he had accepted responsibility and recognised 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 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." She added that Theaker's former colleagues and the force have been left shocked and disgusted by his actions and their long-term impact on his victim.
