Former Merseyside Police officer Ryan Theaker, 30, has been found guilty of rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The convictions were secured largely thanks to the quick thinking of his victim, who secretly recorded 85 minutes of the attack on her phone.
Audio evidence played to jury
The two audio files, played during Theaker's eight-day trial, captured the assault in horrifying detail, including his drunken bullishness and her desperate pleas for him to stop and leave her alone. The prosecution told the jury the recordings showed a "dangerously violent" man.
The clips were so harrowing they prompted tears from the public gallery, where the victim's family sat throughout the proceedings. During closing speeches, sections of the audio were played again, and the victim choked back tears and was comforted by her family.
Victim's bravery in court
In the recordings, the victim can be heard repeatedly telling Theaker, a dad-of-one, to "get off me, get off me", while he belches, hiccups and slurs his words. Prosecutor Gareth Roberts told the jury: "The defendant [refused] to listen to her, or comply with her wishes."
Giving evidence from behind a curtain, the victim was asked if she had made up any of the allegations. She replied: "This doesn't benefit me at all. I'm exposing my life. I'm embarrassing myself with what I'm saying. It's [taken] me two years to realise I've got nothing to be embarrassed about. I don't deserve that. I'm still damaged from it."
Sentencing awaited
Detective Sergeant Matthew McGuinness said: "Theaker's behaviour over a number of years was abhorrent. The fact that he is a former police officer and chose to deny the offences and force his victim to endure a trial is even more despicable."
Judge Brian Cummings KC told Theaker he would almost certainly face a lifelong requirement to register as a sex offender. The jury found Theaker not guilty of two offences and could not reach verdicts on two other allegations. He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on October 8.
