A Melbourne man who swindled more than $180,000 from women he met on dating sites will spend at least two years behind bars.

Between July 2017 and June 2019, Rick McLeod convinced four women he met on the site Oasis to invest thousands of dollars through his so-called broker business.

Each of the women sent McLeod money, ranging from $15,200 to $80,000, with the belief they would get their funds back with interest.

But McLeod instead used the money to fund his drinking and gambling habits, only repaying $9,900 of the $182,200 he took from the women.

Rick McLeod (centre, pictured in June) was sentenced to three years and 10 months behind bars at Victorian County Court on Friday 

The 74-year-old pleaded guilty in the Victorian County Court to charges of obtaining financial advantage and property by deception, and was sentenced on Friday.

County Court Judge Peter Rozen described McLeod’s offending as callous, noting it had an enduring and devastating impact on the victims.

‘You were fully aware of what you were doing,’ the judge said in his sentencing remarks.

The 74-year-old swindled $182,200 from four women he met on dating app Oasis between July 2017 and June 2019 by convincing them to invest in his so-called broker business

Judge Rozen noted McLeod had 400 dishonesty offences on his criminal record and had previously served jail time for similar offending.

Protection of the community was important when it came to sentencing because McLeod’s prospects of rehabilitation were poor, the judge said.

McLeod was sentenced to three years and 10 months behind bars but he will be eligible for parole after two years and three months.