Police Officer Jailed for 11 Years for Hotel Room Rape

A former Merseyside Police constable has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for raping and assaulting a woman in a hotel room in 2023. Ryan Theaker, 30, was convicted of one count of rape, one count of sexual assault, and one count of assault by penetration.

The victim, who had a prior acquaintance with Theaker, secretly recorded an 80-minute audio of the assault on her mobile phone, which was presented as evidence in court. During her victim impact statement, she described Theaker as a "monster" and stated that his actions would have a lasting impact on her life, contributing to a suicide attempt in 2024. She told the court, "people like him have no place in society." Judge Brian Cummings KC noted that Theaker had inflicted "severe psychological harm" on the woman.

Theaker, who has since accepted responsibility for the sexual offenses, albeit with limited recollection due to alcohol intoxication, was sentenced to 11 years in prison with an additional five years on extended license. He must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

Defending, Jenny Tallentyre stated that Theaker had begun to reflect on the impact of his behavior and expressed shame and embarrassment. The former officer was previously described as an "excellent police officer," having received a commendation in 2020 and a nomination for a bravery award.

Theaker resigned from the force in August 2025, prior to a misconduct hearing related to sharing "ableist" videos in a WhatsApp group in 2021. These videos were unrelated to the rape investigation and surfaced after his phone was seized. The misconduct was found to be gross misconduct, and he would have been dismissed had he still been employed.

Assistant Chief Constable Karen Jaundrill of Merseyside Police stated that Theaker's behavior was unacceptable within policing and society. She emphasized that his actions were not representative of the force's officers and staff, who were reportedly shocked and disgusted by his conduct and its impact on the victim. Jaundrill affirmed that Theaker was not fit to be a police officer and that his removal from the force was appropriate.