A serving Merseyside Police constable has been jailed for 11 years for raping a woman in an 80-minute hotel attack. Ryan Theaker, 30, from Netherton, Merseyside, was found guilty in August of one count of rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration.
The woman, who knew the defendant, covertly recorded audio of the incident on her mobile phone. That recording was presented as 'harrowing' evidence to the jury at Liverpool Crown Court.
Victim's impact statement
During the sentencing hearing on Thursday, the victim told the court: "People like him have no place in society. I still struggle to understand how he was able to go into work, arrest someone for a crime that was less or the same as what he had done to me and still be proud to wear that uniform. He didn't deserve to be in the police. He didn't deserve his nice house. He didn't deserve his nice new car."
She added: "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."
"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."
Sentence and judge's remarks
Judge Brian Cummings KC told Theaker he was in 'large measure' responsible for the woman's suicide attempt in 2024 and said he had inflicted 'severe psychological harm'. The judge sentenced him to 11 years in prison with an extended licence period of five years, ruling that he must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before the Parole Board could consider his release.
The court was told the defendant had subsequently acknowledged committing the sexual offences, though his memory was 'limited' due to alcohol intoxication. Jenny Tallentyre, defending, said: "He has begun to reflect on the impact of his behaviour on her. He has talked about his own shame and embarrassment. He has acknowledged his behaviour on the night was unacceptable."
Police response and misconduct findings
Theaker was characterised as an 'excellent police officer' who was commended in 2020 and put forward for a bravery award last year. He stepped down from the force in August 2025 before a misconduct hearing concerning his sharing of two videos in a WhatsApp group in 2021 that were 'ableist in nature', Merseyside Police confirmed. Those videos were separate from the rape investigation and came to light after his mobile phone was seized for examination. The allegation was proven at gross misconduct level, and it was concluded he would have faced dismissal had he remained in service.
Following the sentencing, 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. Clearly we now know this man was not fit to be a police officer, and it is right that he is no longer part of the force."
