Philip Foster jailed for nine years over £13.6m modelling fraud targeting families
Former Brookside actor Philip Foster has been jailed for nine years over a £13.6 million modelling fraud that exploited thousands of children and their families. He received an additional six-month sentence after being extradited from Spain, where he had fled before his trial, for trying to evade justice.
A National Trading Standards investigation found that more than 6,000 people were persuaded to pay for photography portfolios after being falsely told they had modelling potential and agency interest. Foster’s operation used sham agencies and studios across Britain; families were left with debt and poor-quality photographs, while virtually none of the victims secured paid modelling work. His barrister told the court that Foster’s wife had died of cancer and his son had been murdered, while the judge said he had used fraud proceeds to fund a lavish lifestyle.
- Philip Foster received nine years for a £13.6 million modelling fraud.
- More than 6,000 people were deceived into paying for portfolios.
- He was given a further six months for fleeing to Spain before trial.
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Modelling agencies help people find paid work in fashion, advertising and other media, often using photographs to introduce them to clients. Families may pay for professional portfolios, but paying for photographs does not guarantee that a child will be offered work.
In this case, investigators said families were led to believe that children had modelling potential and agencies were interested in them. The operation involved sham agencies and studios in Britain, and the photographs produced were of little use to most families.
The case matters because it shows how claims about access to modelling work can lead families to spend money without a realistic prospect of paid jobs. National Trading Standards investigated the operation and brought evidence about its scale and effects on victims.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Former Brookside actor who hid in Spain before his trial for orchestrating £13.6million modelling scam from home is jailed for nine years”.