A former Merseyside Police officer in the United Kingdom, Ryan Theaker, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for raping and sexually assaulting a woman during an 82-minute attack at a hotel in Liverpool in 2023.
The 30-year-old was convicted of rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration following a trial, according to the BBC.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that the victim repeatedly pleaded with Theaker to stop during the assault, with audio recordings capturing her saying “get off me” more than 300 times.
Prosecutors told the court that Theaker brought sex toys to the hotel and used them during the attack. He also allegedly demanded that the woman permit him to take nude photographs of her despite her objections.
The assault was secretly recorded by the victim, with the recordings capturing her crying throughout the ordeal. The court also heard Theaker telling her, “It’ll stop when I say,” as the abuse continued.
In his judgment, Judge Brian Cummings KC described the recordings as harrowing and characterised the offences as a prolonged period of sexual degradation.
The victim, whose identity has been withheld, told the court that the incident had severely affected her mental well-being and that she attempted to take her own life before reporting the offences.
Addressing Theaker, she described him as a “monster” and questioned how he could have continued serving as a police officer after committing the crimes.
The judge said Theaker repeatedly forced the woman to undress, took photographs against her wishes, used sexual restraints and subjected her to further assaults. He added that after the victim believed the ordeal had ended, Theaker grabbed her by the hair and raped her.
Judge Cummings classified Theaker as a dangerous offender and imposed an additional five-year licence period following his 11-year prison sentence. He said the former officer’s actions had made at least a substantial contribution to the victim’s decision to attempt suicide.
Theaker’s lawyer, Jenny Tallentire, told the court that her client had accepted his guilt since the trial and was ashamed of his actions. She also noted that he had previously received commendations during his police career and had been nominated for a bravery award.
The offences were reported in August 2024, leading to Theaker’s suspension and subsequent misconduct proceedings. He resigned from Merseyside Police in August 2025, a day before a disciplinary hearing concluded that he would have been dismissed had he remained in the force.
Reacting to the sentencing, Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Karen Jaundrill condemned Theaker’s actions, saying such conduct had no place in society, particularly within the police service.
She added that the force and his former colleagues were shocked by his behaviour and expressed concern over the lasting harm inflicted on the victim.
Theaker will serve his prison sentence under the terms set by the court and remain subject to an extended period of supervision following his release.
