Romance fraudster in jail sentence appeal bid

Raymond McDonald was sentenced to four and a half years in jail in August

A serial romance fraudster who was sentenced to four and a half years in prison has applied to the Court of Appeal for leave to have his sentence reviewed.

Raymond McDonald, from Peterlee in County Durham, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by deception at Newcastle Crown Court earlier this year.

The 51-year-old has been jailed several times in the last two decades for fraud and romance scams.

One of his victims said they carried "lifelong trauma" as a result of their relationship.

McDonald is the subject of a BBC documentary - Are we dating the same fraudster? - charting his criminal career.

Police believe he has scammed more than 100 people out of thousands of pounds.

One of his recent victims, who the BBC has agreed not to name, said he "knows the legal system inside out".

"Ray lies for his own advantage," they said.

"The victims carry lifelong trauma while he gets the opportunity to shorten his sentence."

McDonald's legal team has lodged an application to appeal against his sentence

Before returning to jail in August, McDonald had left prison in December 2023 and soon met several women through dating sites, cheating them out of money.

Speaking to the BBC for the documentary, Det Con Saad Sheban from Northumbria Police said: "People normally think 'dangerous' is somebody who can physically hurt you, make you bleed, but Raymond hurts people emotionally.

"McDonald is a serial scammer who routinely preys on women who are just trying to find a life companion."

McDonald’s legal team has lodged an application for permission to appeal against his latest sentence.

If it is granted, an appeal can then be lodged for consideration by the Court of Appeal.