Former Merseyside Police constable Ryan Theaker has been jailed for 11 years after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault. The 30-year-old received his sentence at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday.
The victim secretly recorded the 82-minute assault, evidence that later played a crucial role in his conviction. During the attack, the woman told Theaker "get off me" 300 times, according to evidence presented in court.
Attack in Liverpool hotel room
The rape occurred in a Liverpool hotel room following a night out in 2023. Prosecutor Gareth Roberts stated that the recordings captured Theaker, from Park Lane in Netherton, insisting the victim allow him to take nude photos of her - despite her clear objections. The court heard how he assaulted the woman with sex toys he had brought to the hotel.
During sentencing remarks, Judge Brian Cummings said Theaker repeatedly instructed her to get into the bath, pushed her onto the bed, removed her clothes and forced her to wear sexual restraints. Just when the victim believed the assault had ended, Theaker reportedly seized her by the hair and raped her.
Victim's statement
The former officer - who was described as an "excellent" police constable by defending barrister Jenny Tallentire - had his actions branded "harrowing" by the judge.
The victim eventually opened up to family and friends about the attack after attempting suicide a year afterwards. The crimes were reported in August 2024, resulting in Theaker being suspended and facing misconduct proceedings. A day before his hearing in August 2025, he quit the force, accepting that he would have been dismissed had he stayed.
Sentence and impact
Theaker has now been jailed for 11 years with an extended five-year licence period.
In a personal statement released by Merseyside Police, the victim said: "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."
She added: "He didn't deserve to be in the police. He didn't deserve his nice house. He didn't deserve his nice new car. 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 continued: "I have been able to do this through the support I have received from my family, friends, investigating officers, supervisors and my counsellor. 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."
