Ex-TV Star's £13.6M Fraudster Nabbed in Spain

Philip Foster, a disgraced former actor known for his role as manipulative villain Christian Wright in the 1990s Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, has been apprehended in Torrevieja, on Spain's Costa Blanca. Foster, 51, was a wanted fugitive after being convicted in his absence in February 2025 for a colossal £13.6 million modelling fraud. He had been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison and subsequently placed on the National Crime Agency's (NCA) most wanted list.

Reports from Spanish sources indicate that Foster was detained by armed officers on Thursday, September 17. Extradition proceedings have now been initiated to facilitate his return to the UK to face justice for his crimes. Rick Jones, the NCA's Deputy Director International, lauded the arrest, stating that it "demonstrates the continued success of the most wanted campaign and our commitment to tracking down criminals wanted by UK law enforcement," and commended the dedicated work of the Guardia Civil.

For at least 15 years, Foster had been brazenly living a luxurious life in southern Spain, funding it by orchestrating a sophisticated fake-modelling scam that defrauded thousands. A six-year investigation by National Trading Standards (NTS) revealed that more than 6,000 aspiring models fell victim to the scheme, parting with significant sums of money under the false promise of securing paid modelling work.

Foster operated a network of sham modelling agencies and photography studios across major UK cities, including London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry, and Nottingham. Victims were initially lured through local photographic studio advertisements and social media campaigns, receiving emails that falsely suggested they had potential. They were then invited for a 'free' test shoot at a studio, a tactic used to extort money. During these sessions, they were presented with glossy brochures and assured of their success, but were told they needed to purchase an expensive photographic portfolio directly from the studio to join an agency and become a professional model.

Many victims, desperate to pursue their dreams, resorted to credit deals arranged by the fraudsters or even high-interest payday loans to cover these upfront payments. In return, they received only poor-quality digital photographs that offered no genuine chance of securing professional work, and the vast majority never received any paid modelling assignments. Meanwhile, Foster indulged in a lavish lifestyle, acquiring high-end watches and cars with his share of the illicit proceeds. The NTS investigators noted that victims were left financially and emotionally devastated, feeling humiliated and profoundly betrayed.

Foster's personal life in Spain also came under scrutiny. After initially residing in the Costa del Sol with his wife, Nicola Jones, he later moved north to the Punta Prima area of the Orihuela Costa. His life reportedly took a turn after his wife, Ms. Jones, died on May 16 of natural causes, a detail confirmed by the Guardia Civil. Court documents indicated that Ms. Jones had personally benefited from money obtained by Foster during an eight-year modelling agency scam, which was operated across the UK by their son, Michael Foster. She was also accused of not paying tax on the money received, though she was not convicted in court. Foster is believed to have left the area shortly after his wife's death and just two days after being named on the NCA's most-wanted list as part of Operation Captura.

Adding another layer to the criminal family saga, Foster's son, Michael Foster, who also evaded police for his role in the network of false modelling agencies, is understood to be missing in Spain. Spanish authorities reportedly informed officers in Merseyside at the beginning of this year that Michael Foster was unaccounted for, and this remains the case. With Philip Foster now in custody, the focus shifts to his extradition, marking a significant step towards bringing accountability for the extensive modelling fraud.