A FORMER Brookside star who scammed aspiring models out of £13.6million through a fake agency has been jailed.Philip Foster, 49, targeted more than 6,000 young girls and their families across an eight year period, leaving them in “serious debt”.
PABrookside actor Phillip Foster was sentenced after scamming aspiring models out of money[/caption]The former actor played Christian Wright in soap opera Brookside, alongside his on-screen ex-wife Rachel Wright, portrayed by Tiffany Chapman.But Sheffield Crown Court heard today how he stole large amounts from his victims through the fraudulent Spanish-based company.His scam began by enticing hopeful models into fake agencies and photography studios based in London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry and Nottingham.
The victims were emailed twisted lies about their potential after being drawn in by false social media advertisements. They would be told a modelling agency wanted to work with them and invited to a “free” test shoot.A six year NTS investigation uncovered how the models were told they’d passed the initial studio round, but would have to fork out more for professional photographs.
These would be necessary for an agency to sign them, and secure jobs, it was said.Some victims even used credit deals arranged by the scammers or took out loans to make the upfront payment.But instead of securing their dreams, they were given poor quality digital photographs and no paid modelling opportunities.
Victims reported going thro.