Fraudster Freddy David is appealing against his six-year prison sentence for a massive Ponzi scheme, many of whose victims were from the Jewish community.

David, 49, was jailed last month after he admitted defrauding 55 people out of £14.5 million.

The Judicial Office confirmed to the JC that he had made an application for permission to appeal, although it is not yet clear whether the request will be granted.

A spokesperson said: “The next step will be for a single judge to consider whether to grant permission on the papers. If permission is granted it will then go to a full hearing in front of three judges. As yet there is no indication of any timescales.”

At his sentencing, David’s actions were described as “a fraud of the utmost gravity with a devastating effect on others.”

The court heard he used the money to fund his gambling habit, pay for family holidays and pay his children's school fees.

David's friends were among the victims.

He stood down as managing director at wealth management company HBFS Financial Services last year amid a police investigation into the fraud.

The victims invested between £20,000 and £750,000 in the scheme. The fraud ran "in parallel with legitimate HBFS business", police said.