Former Actor Jailed for Orchestrating £13.6 Million Modeling Scam
Philip Foster, who previously starred in the soap opera Brookside, has been sentenced to nine years for fraud and money laundering after attempting to evade justice in Spain.
A former Brookside actor has been sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in a £13.6 million fraud that targeted thousands of aspiring child models and their parents. Philip Foster, 51, who also used the stage name Philip Dowd, was jailed in his absence in February 2025 for eight and a half years for fraud and money laundering. He had absconded to Spain before his trial.
Foster, who played Christian Wright in the Liverpool-based soap during the mid-1990s, was extradited last month. He appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday, where he received an additional six-month sentence for attempting to evade justice. His total sentence is nine years.
Foster operated a network of sham modeling agencies and photography studios across Britain, including London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry, and Nottingham. These operations allegedly left families in financial ruin and emotionally devastated young aspiring models.
According to National Trading Standards, over 6,000 victims paid significant sums for the promise of paid modeling work. Victims were contacted via social media and led to believe agencies were interested in them. They were then invited to "free" test shoots, where they were pressured into purchasing expensive portfolios, often financing them through credit or payday loans. The photographs provided were of poor quality, and virtually none of the victims secured any paid modeling work.
The court heard that Foster's wife died from cancer, and his son Michael was murdered around Christmas last year. Despite these personal tragedies, the judge described Foster as a "coward" for absconding.
Foster's lavish lifestyle, including purchases of designer watches, yacht trips, and a Porsche for his daughter, was presented as evidence that his wealth was derived from the illegal scheme. He appeared in court via video link from HMP Doncaster.
Eight of Foster's accomplices were also sentenced last year. Michael Foster, 27, received three and a half years for conspiracy to defraud. Paul Evans, 39, was given the same sentence for money laundering offenses.
Other co-accused received suspended sentences. Jamie Peters, 52, was given 24 months suspended for two years for conspiracy to defraud. Lisa Foster, 42, received 18 months suspended for 12 months for the same charge.
Emily Newall, 29, was sentenced to 10 months suspended for 12 months, and Atif Qadar, 44, received 12 months suspended for 12 months, both for conspiracy to defraud.
Paul Fleury, 57, was given 18 months suspended for 12 months for conspiracy to defraud. Aslihan Foster, 39, received 18 months suspended for 12 months for money laundering.
