Court News

SHUTDOWN

Thirteen jailed for more than 80 years after police dismantle Devon drugs network

GOLD BARS

Former CIA official pleads guilty to $194m fraud after FBI finds $46m in gold bars

MONSTER JAILE# FORMER MERSEYSIDE POLICE OFFICER JAILED FOR 11 YEARS AFTER RAPING WOMAN IN HOTEL ROOM A FORMER MERSEYSIDE POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN JAILED FOR 11 YEARS AFTER RAPING AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A WOMAN DURING AN 80-MINUTE ORDEAL IN A HOTEL ROOM. RYAN THEAKER, 30, FROM NETHERTON, WAS A SERVING POLICE CONSTABLE WHEN HE ATTACKED THE WOMAN, WHO WAS KNOWN TO HIM, IN 2023. A JURY AT LIVERPOOL CROWN COURT CONVICTED THEAKER IN AUGUST OF RAPE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ASSAULT BY PENETRATION. DURING THE TRIAL, JURORS HEARD A COVERT AUDIO RECORDING MADE BY THE WOMAN ON HER MOBILE PHONE DURING THE ATTACK. ## VICTIM SECRETLY RECORDED ATTACK THE RECORDING LASTED AROUND 85 MINUTES AND CAPTURED THE WOMAN REPEATEDLY ASKING THEAKER TO STOP. PROSECUTORS RELIED ON IT AS EVIDENCE THAT SHE HAD NOT CONSENTED TO THE SEXUAL ACTIVITY. AT SENTENCING, JUDGE BRIAN CUMMINGS KC SAID THEAKER HAD CAUSED HIS VICTIM “SEVERE PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM”. THE JUDGE ALSO TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS IN “LARGE MEASURE” RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WOMAN ATTEMPTING TO TAKE HER OWN LIFE IN 2024. ## ‘THE MONSTER NEVER WINS’ THE WOMAN ADDRESSED THE COURT ABOUT THE IMPACT THEAKER'S OFFENDING HAD HAD ON HER LIFE. SHE SAID: “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.” SHE DESCRIBED THEAKER AS “A MONSTER”, ADDING: “THE MONSTER NEVER WINS.” THE WOMAN SAID THAT ALTHOUGH SHE CONTINUED TO SUFFER PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, THEAKER HAD NOT SUCCEEDED IN COMPLETELY BREAKING HER. “I AM NOT AFRAID,” SHE TOLD THE COURT. ## EXTENDED SENTENCE IMPOSED THEAKER WAS SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS IN PRISON. JUDGE CUMMINGS ALSO IMPOSED A FIVE-YEAR EXTENDED LICENCE PERIOD. THEAKER MUST SERVE AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS OF HIS CUSTODIAL SENTENCE BEFORE THE PAROLE BOARD CAN CONSIDER WHETHER HE SHOULD BE RELEASED. THE COURT HEARD HE HAS SINCE ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMMITTING THE SEXUAL OFFENCES, ALTHOUGH HE SAID HIS RECOLLECTION OF THE NIGHT WAS LIMITED BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN DRINKING ALCOHOL. HIS BARRISTER, JENNY TALLENTYRE, SAID HE HAD BEGUN REFLECTING ON THE IMPACT OF HIS BEHAVIOUR AND HAD EXPRESSED SHAME AND EMBARRASSMENT. ## BARRED FROM POLICING THEAKER RESIGNED FROM MERSEYSIDE POLICE IN AUGUST 2025 BEFORE A SEPARATE MISCONDUCT HEARING CONCERNING VIDEOS HE SHARED IN A WHATSAPP GROUP IN 2021. THE FORCE DESCRIBED THE VIDEOS AS ABLEIST. THEY WERE UNRELATED TO THE SEXUAL OFFENCES AND WERE DISCOVERED WHEN HIS PHONE WAS EXAMINED DURING THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. THE MISCONDUCT HEARING PROCEEDED FOLLOWING HIS RESIGNATION AND FOUND GROSS MISCONDUCT PROVEN. IT CONCLUDED THAT THEAKER WOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED HAD HE REMAINED AN OFFICER. HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PLACED ON THE COLLEGE OF POLICING BARRED LIST, PREVENTING HIM FROM RETURNING TO POLICING ROLES COVERED BY THE SCHEME. ## FORCE CONDEMNS FORMER OFFICER 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.” SHE SAID HIS ACTIONS WERE NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF MERSEYSIDE POLICE OFFICERS AND STAFF AND THAT HIS FORMER COLLEAGUES HAD BEEN LEFT SHOCKED AND DISGUSTED. SHE ADDED: “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.” FOR GOOGLE NEWS, I’D USE **“FORMER MERSEYSIDE POLICE OFFICER JAILED FOR 11 YEARS AFTER RAPING WOMAN IN HOTEL ROOM.”*

Former Merseyside Police officer jailed for 11 years after raping woman in hotel room

RIGHTS REJECTED

Indian national who tortured woman faces deportation after tribunal rejects human rights claim

UNEXPLAINED DEATH

Man found dead on bus in Portree as police investigate unexplained death

COP JAILED

Former Merseyside Police officer jailed for 11 years for rape and sexual assault.

SNAPCHAT

Former HMP Long Lartin officer exchanged thousands of Snapchat messages with prisoner

TRIAL UPDATE

Katie Price told social services Kieran Hayler had groomed teenage girl, court hears

MILKSHAKE DEATH

Girl, 12, died after milkshake made in unwashed blender, inquest finds

DANGEROUS DRIVING

Driver jailed after farmer killed in A697 crash near Whittingham

MURDER CHARGE

Man charged with murder after Raymond Hardinges dies following Southwark stabbing

APPLE TRACKING

Car thieves jailed after police tracked stolen Land Rover using wireless earphones

DANGEROUS OFFENDER

Man jailed for at least 17 years for murder of Dickiesa Nurse

ROBBER JAILED

Burglar jailed for five years after targeting three Plymouth businesses in hours

MACHETE CHASE

Two jailed after machete attack at Canterbury football match

GROSS MISCONDUCT

Former Hampshire chief constable found guilty of gross misconduct over relationships with junior officers

PICTURED RUSSIA SPY

Royal Navy sailor accused of collecting protected information for foreign power remanded in custody

ARSON CHARGES

Man charged with arson after fire damages Barnstaple CEX store

INJUSTICE

Mother says family feels ‘failed’ after boy who stabbed daughter avoids custody

SUICIDE PACT

Inquest finds three sisters who died off Brighton beach took their own lives

AXE ATTACKER REMANDED

Man accused of murdering Hannah Cain remanded in custody after Crown Court appearance A

FIRST PICTURE

First picture released of Maria Saceanu after forensics student admits her murder.

AXE ATTACK

Man charged with attempted murder after Plymouth incident.

SERIOUS CHARGES

Royal Navy sailor charged with National Security Act offences

KFC

Teaching assistant accused of grooming 15-year-old pupil with gifts and meetings outside school

BEACH WALK

Stepfather accused of murdering student went for beach walk with her mother, court hears

OVERDOSE

Man convicted of murdering partner after years of controlling abuse in Croydon

MURDER CHARGE

Man charged with murder of Dr Hannah Cain in Dersingham

LEGAL CHALLENGE

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor challenges police search warrants in High Court

UNI PAYOUT

Family of student who died after university grading error settles civil case

GOLD BARS Former CIA official pleads guilty to $194m fraud after FBI finds $46m in gold bars

MONSTER JAILE# FORMER MERSEYSIDE POLICE OFFICER JAILED FOR 11 YEARS AFTER RAPING WOMAN IN HOTEL ROOM A FORMER MERSEYSIDE POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN JAILED FOR 11 YEARS AFTER RAPING AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A WOMAN DURING AN 80-MINUTE ORDEAL IN A HOTEL ROOM. RYAN THEAKER, 30, FROM NETHERTON, WAS A SERVING POLICE CONSTABLE WHEN HE ATTACKED THE WOMAN, WHO WAS KNOWN TO HIM, IN 2023. A JURY AT LIVERPOOL CROWN COURT CONVICTED THEAKER IN AUGUST OF RAPE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ASSAULT BY PENETRATION. DURING THE TRIAL, JURORS HEARD A COVERT AUDIO RECORDING MADE BY THE WOMAN ON HER MOBILE PHONE DURING THE ATTACK. ## VICTIM SECRETLY RECORDED ATTACK THE RECORDING LASTED AROUND 85 MINUTES AND CAPTURED THE WOMAN REPEATEDLY ASKING THEAKER TO STOP. PROSECUTORS RELIED ON IT AS EVIDENCE THAT SHE HAD NOT CONSENTED TO THE SEXUAL ACTIVITY. AT SENTENCING, JUDGE BRIAN CUMMINGS KC SAID THEAKER HAD CAUSED HIS VICTIM “SEVERE PSYCHOLOGICAL HARM”. THE JUDGE ALSO TOLD HIM THAT HE WAS IN “LARGE MEASURE” RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WOMAN ATTEMPTING TO TAKE HER OWN LIFE IN 2024. ## ‘THE MONSTER NEVER WINS’ THE WOMAN ADDRESSED THE COURT ABOUT THE IMPACT THEAKER'S OFFENDING HAD HAD ON HER LIFE. SHE SAID: “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.” SHE DESCRIBED THEAKER AS “A MONSTER”, ADDING: “THE MONSTER NEVER WINS.” THE WOMAN SAID THAT ALTHOUGH SHE CONTINUED TO SUFFER PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, THEAKER HAD NOT SUCCEEDED IN COMPLETELY BREAKING HER. “I AM NOT AFRAID,” SHE TOLD THE COURT. ## EXTENDED SENTENCE IMPOSED THEAKER WAS SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS IN PRISON. JUDGE CUMMINGS ALSO IMPOSED A FIVE-YEAR EXTENDED LICENCE PERIOD. THEAKER MUST SERVE AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS OF HIS CUSTODIAL SENTENCE BEFORE THE PAROLE BOARD CAN CONSIDER WHETHER HE SHOULD BE RELEASED. THE COURT HEARD HE HAS SINCE ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR COMMITTING THE SEXUAL OFFENCES, ALTHOUGH HE SAID HIS RECOLLECTION OF THE NIGHT WAS LIMITED BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN DRINKING ALCOHOL. HIS BARRISTER, JENNY TALLENTYRE, SAID HE HAD BEGUN REFLECTING ON THE IMPACT OF HIS BEHAVIOUR AND HAD EXPRESSED SHAME AND EMBARRASSMENT. ## BARRED FROM POLICING THEAKER RESIGNED FROM MERSEYSIDE POLICE IN AUGUST 2025 BEFORE A SEPARATE MISCONDUCT HEARING CONCERNING VIDEOS HE SHARED IN A WHATSAPP GROUP IN 2021. THE FORCE DESCRIBED THE VIDEOS AS ABLEIST. THEY WERE UNRELATED TO THE SEXUAL OFFENCES AND WERE DISCOVERED WHEN HIS PHONE WAS EXAMINED DURING THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. THE MISCONDUCT HEARING PROCEEDED FOLLOWING HIS RESIGNATION AND FOUND GROSS MISCONDUCT PROVEN. IT CONCLUDED THAT THEAKER WOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED HAD HE REMAINED AN OFFICER. HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PLACED ON THE COLLEGE OF POLICING BARRED LIST, PREVENTING HIM FROM RETURNING TO POLICING ROLES COVERED BY THE SCHEME. ## FORCE CONDEMNS FORMER OFFICER 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.” SHE SAID HIS ACTIONS WERE NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF MERSEYSIDE POLICE OFFICERS AND STAFF AND THAT HIS FORMER COLLEAGUES HAD BEEN LEFT SHOCKED AND DISGUSTED. SHE ADDED: “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.” FOR GOOGLE NEWS, I’D USE **“FORMER MERSEYSIDE POLICE OFFICER JAILED FOR 11 YEARS AFTER RAPING WOMAN IN HOTEL ROOM.”* Former Merseyside Police officer jailed for 11 years after raping woman in hotel room

RIGHTS REJECTED Indian national who tortured woman faces deportation after tribunal rejects human rights claim

UNEXPLAINED DEATH Man found dead on bus in Portree as police investigate unexplained death

COP JAILED Former Merseyside Police officer jailed for 11 years for rape and sexual assault.

SNAPCHAT Former HMP Long Lartin officer exchanged thousands of Snapchat messages with prisoner

TRIAL UPDATE Katie Price told social services Kieran Hayler had groomed teenage girl, court hears

MILKSHAKE DEATH Girl, 12, died after milkshake made in unwashed blender, inquest finds

DANGEROUS DRIVING Driver jailed after farmer killed in A697 crash near Whittingham

MURDER CHARGE Man charged with murder after Raymond Hardinges dies following Southwark stabbing

APPLE TRACKING Car thieves jailed after police tracked stolen Land Rover using wireless earphones

DANGEROUS OFFENDER Man jailed for at least 17 years for murder of Dickiesa Nurse

ROBBER JAILED Burglar jailed for five years after targeting three Plymouth businesses in hours

MACHETE CHASE Two jailed after machete attack at Canterbury football match

GROSS MISCONDUCT Former Hampshire chief constable found guilty of gross misconduct over relationships with junior officers

PICTURED RUSSIA SPY Royal Navy sailor accused of collecting protected information for foreign power remanded in custody

ARSON CHARGES Man charged with arson after fire damages Barnstaple CEX store

INJUSTICE Mother says family feels ‘failed’ after boy who stabbed daughter avoids custody

SUICIDE PACT Inquest finds three sisters who died off Brighton beach took their own lives

AXE ATTACKER REMANDED Man accused of murdering Hannah Cain remanded in custody after Crown Court appearance A

FIRST PICTURE First picture released of Maria Saceanu after forensics student admits her murder.

AXE ATTACK Man charged with attempted murder after Plymouth incident.

SERIOUS CHARGES Royal Navy sailor charged with National Security Act offences

KFC Teaching assistant accused of grooming 15-year-old pupil with gifts and meetings outside school

BEACH WALK Stepfather accused of murdering student went for beach walk with her mother, court hears

OVERDOSE Man convicted of murdering partner after years of controlling abuse in Croydon

MURDER CHARGE Man charged with murder of Dr Hannah Cain in Dersingham

LEGAL CHALLENGE Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor challenges police search warrants in High Court

UNI PAYOUT Family of student who died after university grading error settles civil case

KILL ROOM Forensics student admits murdering woman in Dexter-style Airbnb ‘kill room’