Ryan McVeigh was today back in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.
The 31-year-old pled guilty in November to a total of 38 charges involving 17 victims in 2023 and 2024.
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McVeigh picked the women via dating apps and social media using a string of fake names.
Two in particular suffered what prosecutors described as repeated “sexual, financial and emotional abuse” at the hands of cruel McVeigh.
He even claimed to one of the pair he was dying from terminal cancer – and got her to help plan his funeral.
Details of the ordeals suffered by the other 15 women were also revealed in court.
Explaining how he swindled one of them, prosecutor Michael Macintosh stated: “She met McVeigh on Snapchat using the name ‘Gary Stephenson’.
“She had previously fallen victim to an online scam and was in financial difficulty.
“McVeigh – as Stephenson – offered to help with her debt, but said he needed money sent to him to unlock his business account.
“The woman sent him £2,000.”
Another lost the same amount after he contacted her on Tinder.
McVeigh told one hard-up woman he would “come and find her” after demanding cash.
He even threatened to report her for fraud.
A further victim described him as “nasty” and handed over £1,490.
Detailing how sinister McVeigh targeted another, Mr Macintosh added: “He persuaded her to send him all her savings then take out loans and give him that money too.”
McVeigh “pressured” her to also send him explicit photos. He then blackmailed her into giving even more money.
A victim was described as “vulnerable” and had just escaped an abusive relationship.
He stood her up on a dinner date after she had earlier sent him money.
One woman had recently lost her job and McVeigh claimed he would “look after her”.
Instead, he also conned her to the extent she had to borrow money from her gran. She ended up in hospital from the torment.
McVeigh got another £2,000 from a woman he met on TikTok. He had threatened to “have her children taken away”.
One woman lost £8,500, a further victim also £2,000.
Three others were also targeted swindled for between £20-£120.
The last of the 15 victims was duped for up to £4,000. McVeigh had also claimed to her that he was ill.
McVeigh – who was said to have had serious gambling issues – was due to be sentenced today/yesterday.
But, the case was adjourned again after Lady Drummond said she wanted a psychiatric report on McVeigh compiled first.
The judge said she had not decided yet on whether to call for a full risk assessment being done on the crook, which could eventually see an Order for Lifelong Restriction imposed.
He will return to the dock in March.
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Among the many charges McVeigh pled guilty to were the rape of the two main victims and multiple frauds.
Mr Macintosh told the hearing in November: “McVeigh’s offending principally involves the sexual, financial and emotional abuse of two women.
“Each was induced into believing they had formed a relationship with someone over the internet.
“The truth was they were communicating with McVeigh using a false identity.
“He induced them into allowing him to live in their homes under a further fake identity.
“By a combination of his online and in-person personas, he coerced each into providing him with money and engaging in sexual activity with him under these pretences.”
The first main victim met McVeigh online in May 2023 via Tinder.
She had money trouble and McVeigh – using a bogus name Gary Stephenson – offered to help.
He later asked if a “friend” called Paul Justin could stay with her.
Mr Macintosh: “He said she should do that for him if she really loved him. He told her he would give her money for shopping.”
McVeigh arranged for the woman to pick up Paul Justin in Glasgow.
This individual turned out to be McVeigh.
McVeigh continued to keep in touch with her by phone using the Stephenson disguise.
This included him persuading her to film herself having sex with Paul Justin.
This was repeated over a number of months – he also hounded her for further intimate clips of herself.
Mr Macintosh: “He continued to promise to meet her, but these arrangements were always cancelled with a variety of reasons given.”
She was further lied to that Gary Stephenson would again “take care of her finances”.
But, she remained worried about her “mounting debts” before alerting police.
McVeigh – known as Paul Justin – was in her home when officers appeared. He claimed to be from South Africa.
The court heard the woman has been left badly affected and believes she lost between £10,000-£18,000.
McVeigh appeared in court in late 2023, got bail and then turned his attention to the other main target.
This woman struck up on contact with the conman – now known as Reece Fletcher – on the Bumble dating app in January 2024.
After getting cash, his lies to meet in person included claims he was in hospital from a car crash and that he was on the run from “dodgy people”.
Prosecutor Mr Macintosh: “She had emptied her bank accounts, taken out credit cards and overdrafts and given him all she had.”
McVeigh – still known as Reece – later said a wealthy cousin called Paul Justin “would take care of the debts and pay off her mortgage”.
The conman – now posing as Paul Justin – turned up the next day.
He initially helped her buy groceries before eventually moving into her spare room.
In mid-March 2024, like the earlier victim, events turned sinister when McVeigh – this time back using the Reece ID – said he had a “fetish” that she record having sex with Paul Justin.
The court heard the woman did not want to do it – but had been promised that her “financial situation” would again be sorted.
The woman eventually went to have sex with McVeigh – believing he was Paul Justin – once a week.
Mr Macintosh further explained: “McVeigh – both as Fletcher and Justin – told an escalating series of lies, making extravagant claims about having large sums of money tied up abroad.
The swindler – still known as Justin – made even worse sick lies by telling the woman he had terminal cancer.
This led to her going to a hospital with him in the summer of 2024.
Mr Macintosh: “He discussed his purported diagnosis with a nurse working with the Macmillan Cancer charity.
“He then attended a hospice where he discussed with a staff member a large donation he was considering.
“He also took the woman to a funeral directors and to a cemetery all on the pretext that only had months to live.
“The woman said the claims about his health made it more difficult for her to challenge him on things which caused concern.”
Police were eventually called in when the woman’s ex-husband became worried about her.
The court was told this woman believes she was conned out of around £38,000 as well as loans she took from relatives.
She remains worried that she may lose her home as a result.
