BBC Local is revisiting one of England’s most prolific romance fraud cases in the fourth series of Love Bombed, hosted by Vicky Pattison.
The six-part podcast examines more than 20 years of offending by Ray McDonald from County Durham, who police believe may have targeted hundreds of women through dating platforms.
Northumbria Police say McDonald formed relationships, often within days of being released from prison, leaving women facing significant emotional and financial harm. Many alleged victims are thought never to have reported their experiences.
Vicky returns to the North East to meet some of those affected, exploring the long-term impact on their lives and the ongoing difficulties in bringing repeat offenders to justice.
Working with journalists from BBC Investigations North East and Cumbria, she follows how the pattern of offending was able to continue for so many years.
As part of the investigation, BBC Local journalist Philippa Goymer went undercover on a dating app after tracking McDonald for more than a year.
She matched with him and met him in person, uncovering further details about his behaviour and the methods he continues to use.
Vicky said: “Ray McDonald just might be our worst Love Bomber yet. For more than 20 years, he’s been meeting women and promising a future together – before leaving them thousands of pounds in debt.”
The series also includes contributions from police, probation teams, digital safety specialists, victims, and members of McDonald’s family and former colleagues. It examines the systems designed to monitor repeat offenders and the challenges in preventing further harm.
Caroline from County Durham, who was defrauded by McDonald, discovered he was still targeting women 15 years later after her mother urged her to watch a documentary about him.
She said: “It was like being hit by a train. To think that he’s putting other women through what he put me through. He just keeps on doing it as though he is punishing as many women as he can, ruining so many lives. This man needs to be stopped.”
Love Bombed: WifeHunter is available as a box set on BBC Sounds from today, Friday 13 February.
