Ex-Merseyside PC Ryan Theaker jailed for 11 years for hotel rape recorded by victim

Mixed · 2Ryan Theaker, 30, a former Merseyside Police constable, was jailed for 11 years at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday 8 October 2026 for raping a woman in a hotel room in 2023. 1 2 Mixed · 2Theaker, of Netherton, was convicted after a trial of one count each of rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration. The BBC says the trial took place last month; the Mirror says the convictions came in August. 1 2 Mixed · 2The woman secretly recorded the attack on her phone. The BBC puts its length at 82 minutes and says she told him to "get off me" more than 300 times; the Mirror calls it an 80-minute ordeal. The recordings were played to jurors and the sentencing judge, Brian Cummings KC, described them as "harrowing". 1 2

Centre · 1Prosecutor Gareth Roberts told the court the recordings captured Theaker demanding to take naked pictures of her against her wishes and assaulting her with sex toys he had brought to the hotel. He was off duty at the time and was heard saying "It'll stop when I say." Roberts called it a "lengthy and prolonged period of sexual degradation". 1 Mixed · 2The BBC reports the offences came to light about a year later, after the woman confided in family and friends following a "serious" suicide attempt, and were reported in August 2024. Judge Cummings said Theaker's behaviour made at least a "substantial contribution" to her attempt to kill herself, according to the BBC. The Mirror quotes him saying Theaker was in "large measure" responsible and had inflicted "severe psychological harm". 2 1 Mixed · 2In a victim personal statement, the woman called Theaker "a monster" and said "The monster never wins". She said she could not understand how he could arrest people and "still be proud to wear that uniform", and that she would always be "physically and emotionally damaged" but was "not afraid". 1 2

Mixed · 2Defence counsel Jenny Tallentire (spelled Tallentyre by the Mirror) said Theaker had accepted his guilt and was ashamed. The Mirror adds that his recollection was "limited" because he was drunk. She described him as an "excellent" officer who was commended in 2020 and nominated for a bravery award. The judge took his public service into account and acknowledged that being a police officer put him at greater risk in custody. 1 2 Left · 1Under the sentence Theaker has an extended licence period of five years. The Mirror says he must serve at least two-thirds in custody before the Parole Board can consider release. 2 Mixed · 2Theaker was suspended and faced misconduct proceedings, and resigned in August 2025, the day before a hearing. The hearing found he would have been dismissed had he stayed. The Mirror says the hearing concerned his sharing of two "ableist" videos in a WhatsApp group in 2021, unrelated to the rape investigation, which emerged when his phone was examined. 1 2

Mixed · 2Assistant Chief Constable Karen Jaundrill said his behaviour had "no place in society, and certainly not within policing" and was not representative of Merseyside Police officers and staff. She said the force was left "shocked and disgusted". In the Mirror's report she added that it was right he was no longer part of the force. 1 2