Former Brookside actor Philip Foster has been arrested in Alicante, Spain, after absconding before his trial for running a £13.6 million modelling scam.

Officers detained the 51-year-old on Thursday, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA), which confirmed that formal extradition proceedings are now under way to bring him back to the UK.

Foster, who played the character Christian Wright in the Merseyside soap, skipped bail prior to his court proceedings. He was subsequently convicted of fraud and money laundering in his absence at Sheffield Crown Court in February 2025, where he was handed an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

The fraudulent operation ran for more than eight years and targeted aspiring young models and their families. Foster directed the enterprise from his base in Marbella, using a network of associates in England to manage sham agencies and photography studios.

The full scope of the business was uncovered following a six-year investigation by National Trading Standards (NTS). Investigators found linked studios and fake agencies operating in cities across the country, including London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry, and Nottingham.

The operation lured people in through social media advertising campaigns and promotions run by local photographic studios. Victims who responded were sent emails claiming they had genuine potential to work as professional models.

They were then informed that in order to sign with an agency and secure paid assignments, they had to buy portfolio photographs directly from the studio. To cover these upfront payments, a number of victims entered credit deals arranged by the fraudsters or turned to expensive payday loans.

In reality, the clients received poor-quality digital photographs that offered no genuine prospect of landing commercial contracts, and most never received any paid modelling work. NTS investigators found that more than 6,000 victims parted with significant amounts of money over the course of the scheme.

While Foster spent his share of the fraud's proceeds on luxury cars and high-end watches, the people he conned faced severe consequences. Many victims told investigators that the scam had left them emotionally and financially devastated, describing feelings of humiliation and betrayal.

What we do not know yet is the exact timeline for when Foster will be returned to British soil, as international extradition hearings must first conclude through the Spanish courts.

Once brought back to the UK, Foster will be transferred directly to prison to serve his eight-and-a-half-year sentence. I'll be following this one — check back for updates.