Description
A dating app rapist who conned and abused seven women targeted ten more after being freed from prison to await trial.
Ryan McVeigh, 32, used multiple aliases to inflict sexual, financial, and emotional abuse, devastating victims' lives.
The serial fraudster pled guilty to 38 charges in November at Glasgow's High Court, but a Sunday Mail investigation revealed officials missed a chance to stop him in 2023. He appeared in court on November 24, charged with serious domestic abuse, and was remanded—only to be freed five days later at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court due to a lack of evidence, later admitted as a mistake.
McVeigh then targeted 10 more women, conning them out of £55,250 and raping one before his July 2024 arrest. Overall, he admitted defrauding 17 victims of £81,872 and raping two over 12 months.
One anonymous victim criticized the system: "He has ruined so many women’s lives. But being pulled into court didn’t deter him, he actually got worse. I just feel so many women have been failed by the criminal justice system that had a chance to stop him."
Opposition politicians demanded an urgent review of bail procedures, accusing the Scottish Government of cost-cutting via the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act—effective May 14—which eases release for accused violent offenders to reduce remand numbers, potentially risking women's safety.
Justice Secretary Angela Constance insisted the changes allow remand "where victims’ safety is put at risk."
McVeigh targeted vulnerable women via Tinder and Bumble, often those escaping abuse, unemployed, or scam survivors. Using fake names like Gary Stephenson, he conned one out of £18,000 via loans and gambling accounts, then raped her posing as "Paul Justin." He lied to police, claiming to be South African.
Another victim, told he had terminal prostate cancer, arranged his funeral and lost £38,000. Others were defrauded of £8,500 and £4,000.
Judge Lady Drummond said: "The scale of your deception, coercion and abuse which you inflicted is staggering. I have received four impact statements, and I may get more. Those who have written describe how devastating the impact of your behaviour has had, placing them in constant fear and financial ruin."
Sentencing, adjourned for a psychiatric report on McVeigh's gambling issues, is set for March.