POLICE have welcomed a ten-year jail sentence for a serial fraudster who preyed on vulnerable divorced and widowed women across the North-East.

Raymond McDonald, 43, of Thornley in County Durham, initially denied fraud by false representation.

But after a trial of issue he was convicted and sentenced to a decade behind bars by a judge, who branded him gutless and predatory.

McDonald defrauded a number of people out of hundreds of thousands of pounds by posing as a high-flying property developer.

His web of lies led to victims losing their possessions and their homes, while he used the money to pay for holidays, gambling trips and to fund his lavish lifestyle.

McDonald, who used the Plenty of Fish website, left a trail of victims in the Durham, Cleveland, Newcastle and Northumberland areas.

Detective Constable David Laybourne, of Northumbria Police, welcomed the sentence, and said: "McDonald targeted vulnerable women who had allowed themselves to trust him in the belief they would be sharing a future together.

“Instead, he has stolen everything he could from them, leaving a trail of financial and emotional devastation in his wake.

“This sentence demonstrates the court’s willingness to punish those who target vulnerable people and the determination of Northumbria to co-operate with other forces to bring them to justice.”

The force launched its investigation after receiving a report of fraud from a victim in Newcastle in April 2016.

Teesside Crown Court heard he had more than 40 previous convictions for similar offences, and had previously been jailed for four, three and two years for “almost identical” crimes.

Passing sentence, Judge Stephen Ashurst said: "McDonald is a gutless man, without shame.

“He is a serial fraudster who lives in a different world to the rest of us when it comes to honesty and the impact our actions have on others.

“These offences were predatory and premeditated against women who were vulnerable due to recent divorce or loss of their partner.

“Each suffered tremendously, and I am satisfied Mr McDonald's behaviour has genuinely ruined lives."