A former Merseyside Police officer has been jailed for 11 years after secretly recorded audio captured him raping and sexually assaulting a woman in a Liverpool hotel. Ryan Theaker, 30, a former Matrix officer, was convicted by a jury of rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration. He was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, where he was deemed a dangerous offender and given an extended sentence to protect the public.
Secret recording captured the assault
The court heard Theaker continued to assault the woman despite her repeated pleas for him to stop. Nearly 85 minutes of the “prolonged and degrading” assault, including her pleas and his sexual demands, were captured on an audio recorder on her phone, according to Liverpool Echo. The victim activated the recording app because she was worried something horrible was going to happen.
During the audio, 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].” The jury heard Theaker had drunk at least eight pints by the time of the assault.
Sentencing and impact
Theaker, of Park Lane in Netherton, 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, and will then be subject to stringent licence conditions. 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.”
Victim's statement and police response
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.”
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. 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.”
