Ex-Brookside Actor Convicted of Fraud Arrested in Spain
Barry Foster, who played Christian Wright in the Channel 4 soap, was apprehended on the Costa Blanca on an international arrest warrant.
A former British soap star, Barry Philip Foster, 51, has been arrested in Spain on an international warrant nearly a year after being placed on Britain's most wanted list. Foster, known for his role as Christian Wright in the Channel 4 series Brookside, was apprehended in Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca.
The arrest was confirmed by the Civil Guard, who released footage of the operation. Foster is wanted to serve an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence for fraud and money laundering offenses. The National Crime Agency (NCA) had appealed for public assistance last May to track him down.
Authorities stated that Foster operated a network of fake modeling agencies and photography studios, deceiving victims with promises of lucrative modeling careers. Instead, individuals were provided with unusable digital photographs after paying for services. The scam was uncovered during a six-year investigation by National Trading Standards.
During the arrest, the Alicante Guardia Civil Command also searched Foster's residence, seizing 22,000 euros in cash and several false identity documents. He is also facing charges for document forgery.
The Civil Guard mentioned that Foster's arrest occurred during inquiries related to a homicide in the same locality, though no further details were provided about this investigation. Foster's wife, Nicola Jones, reportedly died in May, but her death is understood to have been from natural causes.
Rick Jones, NCA deputy director international, commended the work of the Guardia Civil and emphasized the ongoing success of the 'most wanted' campaign in bringing fugitives to justice. Foster was known to have connections to Marbella.
Foster and an associate failed to appear in court after being sentenced in February 2025 at Sheffield Crown Court for conspiracy to defraud. More than 6,000 victims reportedly lost money due to his fraudulent operations, leading to significant financial and emotional distress, according to NTS Chairman Lord Bichard.