Philip Barry Foster, the former Brookside actor who played villain Christian Wright, has been jailed for nine years after running a €16 million fake modelling scam from Spain. Foster, 51, was arrested by the Guardia Civil in Torrevieja in September and extradited to the UK soon after. A Sheffield court then jailed him for nine years following a previous absent sentence of eight and a half years. Prosecutors said Foster masterminded a network of sham modelling agencies that lured young hopefuls and their parents with promises of a real modelling career. Victims were offered “free test shoots”, before being pressured into paying for poor-quality portfolio photographs that never led to paid work. The scheme operated for more than eight years from a base in Marbella. Foster and eight associates targeted victims through social media adverts in cities including London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry and Nottingham. The gang allegedly made millions of pounds by pushing parents into credit deals and payday loans to cover the cost of glossy portfolios that led nowhere. A six-year National Trading Standards investigation found more than 6,000 victims were conned, handing over around £13.6 million, or €16.2 million. Lord Bichard, chairman of National Trading Standards, said Foster’s actions left thousands of victims in serious debt, causing lasting emotional distress and financial pressure. Judge David Dixon told Foster he was a “coward” for trying to flee justice while co-accused had come to court, saying Foster chose to hide and live off income from his illegal scheme. Foster is now serving the nine-year sentence after appearing via video link from prison in Yorkshire. His son, Michael, was also sentenced to three and a half years in absentia for this part of the scheme and is believed to be hiding out in Spain.