'Monster' former police officer jailed for 11 years after victim recorded rape on mobile phone

The victim, who was known to the defendant, secretly made an audio recording of the events on her mobile phone which was later played in "harrowing" evidence to jurors at Liverpool Crown Court.

In August, Theaker, of Netherton, Merseyside, was convicted of one count of rape, one count of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration.

On Thursday, his victim entered the witness box at his sentencing and 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.

"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."

Ryan Theaker has been jailed

MERSEYSIDE POLICE

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".

He imposed an extended licence period of five years and said the defendant must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence in custody before the Parole Board could consider his release.

The court heard the defendant had since accepted he had committed the sexual offences although his recollection was "limited" because of his intoxication by alcohol.

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."

He resigned from the force in August 2025 ahead of a misconduct hearing over sharing two videos in a WhatsApp group in 2021 that were "ableist in nature", Merseyside Police said.

Those videos were unrelated to the rape investigation and emerged after his mobile phone was seized for examination.

The matter was found proven at the level of gross misconduct and it was determined he would have been dismissed if he had still been serving, said police.

Detective Sergeant Matthew McGuinness said: "I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the strength and resilience shown by Theaker's victim in coming forward, and the dignity and composure she has shown throughout the lengthy investigation and court case.

"Her victim personal statement shows the ongoing impact Theaker’s offending has had, but I hope that today’s sentencing will go some way to helping her to move on with her life.

"I hope that it will also encourage other victims of sexual offences to come forward knowing that they will be listened to and supported by specially trained officers."

Following 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."

Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.