18/10/2026
A wanted criminal from Merseyside is said to have been murdered while on the run in Spain. Michael Foster, son of former Brookside actor Philip Foster, was killed in Spain - according to his dad, who this week was jailed for nine years.
Philip Foster's conviction came following an ECHO investigation which found he had been living in the Punta Prima area of the Costa Blanca as recently as May this year, around the same time the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Crimestoppers released an appeal naming him as one of the UK's most wanted criminals believed to be living in Spain.
The appeal stated Foster was believed to have been living in Marbella, around 500km from Punta Prima, with the now-51-year-old having fled to Spain when he was bailed ahead of a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court where he was due to be sentenced in February last year.
A National Trading Standards investigation found Foster controlled a sham modelling network which saw him make more than £13m from upwards of 6,000 victims.
Foster's network of sham agencies and photography studios spread across the country including London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry, and Nottingham. Victims were then invited to a "free" test shoot at the photographic studio, which turned out to be a ruse to try to extort money from them.
At the test shoot, victims were given a studio experience, handed glossy brochures and told how successful other people had been. They would then be told that they passed their studio test and that modelling agencies were interested, but they needed to purchase their portfolio photographs from the studio in order to join an agency and become an agency model.
Victims were duped by the group who, between them, gave a good impression of running successful model businesses and lied to them about their potential. Millions of pounds was 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.
Instead, victims received poor quality digital photographs that stood no real chance of landing them professional jobs. Virtually none of the victims received any paid modelling work. The sham agencies were often dissolved after short periods, rebranded repeatedly to avoid detection, and paid no tax.
During the nationwide scam, Philip Foster is believed to have lived in Spain, having his son, Michael, travel between the UK and Marbella to deliver cash via commercial flights. His son would also be responsible for running the on-the-ground operations in his dad's absence.
Following the ECHO's investigation earlier this year, armed police from the Guardia Civil detained Foster in Torrevieja, just kilometres from where he was traced to as recently as May. The Spanish police unit stated he was detained as officers investigated a murder in the area.
Philip Foster, who is from Liverpool and previously gave his address as being in Aigburth, was arrested and found to be in possession of fake identification documents he was believed to have used, as well as €22,000. He was extradited earlier this month before appearing via video link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs in London on Friday, October 16, for his sentencing hearing.
Wearing a black t-shirt, glasses and sporting short grey hair, he sat at a desk on the video link where he was labelled a "coward" by Judge David Dixon.
The hearing was told how Foster had been bailed before sentencing to sort affairs with his wife, Nicola Jones, who was battling cancer and had, at times, been a co-defendant during the case.
It was then when Foster and Jones fled to Spain, before her death in May this year. Their son, who gave his address to the court as Snowdon Lane, Liverpool, is believed to have joined them too, with the pair being sentenced in absence while their co-conspirators were each told their fate.
But, as Anthony Barraclough, defending Foster, told the hearing, Philip Foster remained in Spain due to grief. This was not only for his wife, but because their son, Michael Foster, was believed to have been murdered around Christmas last year.
Mr Barraclough also revealed Foster himself had been questioned by Spanish police over the alleged murder when he was eventually arrested last month.
The ECHO, aware of speculation surrounding Michael's death, attempted to gather information earlier this year. Merseyside Police explained officers had received a concern for safety of a 28-year-old Merseyside man in Spain.
A spokesperson confirmed this was still the case with a statement on Friday afternoon: "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."
When approached, the NCA declined to comment and National Trading Standards did not offer any additional appeal or information on Michael Foster.
Mr Barraclough also stated Spanish police had introduced a secrecy order, as is often the case with murders, which prevents any information being reported or shared.
Concluding the hearing, Judge Dixon informed Foster he would be serving his eight-and-a-half-year sentence he had looked to evade, with a further six months for absconding and failing to surrender to bail.
It remains unclear as to what has happened to Michael Foster while on the run in Spain, with authorities hesitant to comment further.
