A court has heard that the son of a convicted fraudster, who was on the run in Spain, is believed to have been murdered. Philip Foster, 51, a former Brookside actor, was jailed for nine years last week for his role in a £13.6 million modelling scam.
Foster had been living in the Punta Prima area of the Costa Blanca in Spain. The National Crime Agency (NCA) and Crimestoppers had released an appeal earlier this year naming him as one of the UK's most wanted criminals believed to be living in Spain. He fled to Spain after being bailed ahead of a sentencing hearing at Sheffield Crown Court, which was due to take place in February 2025.
Sham Modelling Network
A National Trading Standards investigation found that Foster controlled a sham modelling network that made more than £13 million from upwards of 6,000 victims, according to the Liverpool Echo. His network of fake agencies and photography studios operated across the country, including in London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry, and Nottingham.
Victims were invited to a "free" test shoot at the studio, which turned out to be a ruse to extort cash. They were given a studio experience, handed glossy brochures, and told how successful others had been. Victims were then told they had passed the test and that modelling agencies were interested, but they needed to purchase their portfolio photographs to join an agency.
Millions of pounds were taken from aspiring models, with some coerced into financing the upfront payment through credit deals arranged by the fraudsters or taking out expensive payday loans. However, victims received poor quality digital photos that stood no real chance of landing them professional jobs, and virtually none received any paid modelling work. The sham agencies were often dissolved after short periods and repeatedly rebranded to avoid detection, and they paid no tax.
Arrest and Sentencing
Philip Foster is believed to have lived in Spain while the scam was carried out. His son Michael reportedly travelled between the UK and Marbella on commercial flights to deliver money and was responsible for running on-the-ground operations in his father's absence.
Armed police from the Guardia Civil detained Foster in Torrevieja earlier this year, following an investigation by the Echo. Officers said he was detained as they investigated a murder in the area. Foster, originally from Liverpool, was found in possession of fake ID documents and €22,000. He was extradited earlier this month and appeared via video link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs in London last Friday (October 16) for his sentencing hearing.
Judge David Dixon branded him a "coward" and jailed him for nine years, which included an extra six-month sentence for absconding and failing to surrender to bail.
Son's Alleged Murder
Sheffield Crown Court was told Foster had been bailed before sentencing to sort affairs with his wife, Nicola Jones, who had cancer. She had, at times, been a co-defendant during the case. But Foster and Jones fled to Spain, where she died in May this year. Their son is thought to have joined them too.
Anthony Barraclough, defending Foster, said his client remained in Spain due to grief, not only for his wife but also because their son, Michael Foster, was believed to have been murdered last year around Christmas time. The lawyer revealed Foster himself had been questioned by Spanish police over the alleged murder when he was arrested last month. He also said Spanish police had introduced a secrecy order, as is often the case with murders, which prevents any information being reported or shared.
Barraclough told the court: "The Spanish have imposed a blanket of secrecy in relation to that. He has had a great deal going on, of a terrible nature, but he is nevertheless an absconder."
Merseyside Police told the Echo that officers had received a concern for safety of a 28-year-old Merseyside man in Spain. A spokesperson said: "We can confirm a report was received of concern for the safety of a 28-year-old Merseyside man in Spain. We are assisting the National Crime Agency and the Spanish authorities conducting the investigation, and have offered the family of the man specialist support."
It remains unclear as to what has happened to Michael Foster while on the run abroad, and authorities were hesitant to comment further.
