Former Brookside star Philip Foster, 49, ran the operation involving an extensive network of sham modelling agencies that exploited the dreams of aspiring young models and their parents for more than eight years.The actor played Christian Wright on the soap was sentenced in his absence at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday for conspiracy to defraud along with eight of his associates who were sentenced for the same offence and on money laundering charges, NTS said.More than 6,000 victims parted with large sums of money on the false promise of securing paid modelling work in the fraud that Foster ran from his base in Spain, where he lived a luxurious lifestyle.He used a network of associates in England to operate a string of sham modelling agencies and photography studios in cities including London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry and Nottingham which was uncovered after a six-year NTS investigation.
The victims were duped into thinking that a model agency was interested in them, with emails telling them they had potential after they responded to a local photographic studio and social media advertising campaign.
An invite to get a ‘free’ test shoot at the photographic studio was used to try to extort money, according to NTS.
They were handed glossy brochures, told that other people like them had been successful and they had passed their studio test but they would need to buy a photographic portfolio for the modelling agencies who were interested in them.
They were told they had to buy their portfolio photographs from the studio in order to join an agency and become an agency model.
After the sentencing Lord Bichard, NTS chairman, said that Foster’s ‘cruel exploits left thousands of victims in serious debt, causing lasting emotional distress and significant financial pressures’.
Money from the scam was laundered through UK bank accounts before being transferred to Spain or carried in cash on commercial flights by co-conspirators, the NTS said.
Lisa Foster, 42, of Astley, Greater Manchester, was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence, Emily Newall, 29, of Kearsley, Greater Manchester, was given a 10-month suspended prison sentence while Atif Qadar, 44, of Crowthorne, Berkshire, got a suspended 12-month prison sentence.
Each of them was convicted of conspiracy to defraud.
Paul Fleury, 57, of Swinton, Manchester, received an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for conspiracy to defraud.
Aslihan Foster, 39, of Coventry, received a suspended 18-month prison sentence, while Paul Evans, 39, of no known address, got a three-and-a-half year suspended prison sentence after they were both convicted of offences related to money laundering.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for managing our environment councillor Greg White said: ‘Foster and his fellow scammers cruelly exploited young hopefuls trying to break into one of the most competitive industries.
“In some cases, parents borrowed money or sacrificed savings, believing they were investing in their children’s futures.
‘I urge anyone searching online for modelling opportunities to remember that legitimate agencies don’t ask for money upfront, it’s often only scam agencies who push expensive photoshoots as a prerequisite to getting work.’
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