Philip Foster, 49, ran a network of sham modelling agencies across England that exploited aspiring young models and their parents.

An investigation by the National Trading Standards (NTS) uncovered the complex scam, which had run for more than eight years.

Foster, who once played Christian Wright in the Brookside soap, was the ringleader of the operation and masterminded the fraud from Marbella in Spain, where he lived.

He used a network of eight associates based in England who operated a string of sham modelling agencies and photography studios in cities across the country, including London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Coventry, and Nottingham.

More than 6,000 victims were deceived by the group – mainly young people and mothers – who ended up parting with substantial amounts of money under the false promise of securing paid modelling work.

Foster was given an eight and half year prison sentence last Friday at Sheffield Crown Court for conspiracies to defraud, but was sentenced in his absence as he is at large in Spain.

The NTS investigation took six years and involved forensic analysis of financial transactions, thousands of consumer complaints, and witness testimony from victims.

The fraud worked by setting up a photographic studio in the area and running a social media advertising campaign. People who responded were given the false impression that a model agency was interested in them, with emails telling them they had potential.

Victims were then invited to a ‘free’ test shoot at the photographic studio, which turned out to be a scam to try to extort money out of them.

At the test shoot, the would-be models 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 pay for an expensive photoshoot from the studio in order to join an agency and become an agency model.

Millions of pounds were taken from aspiring models, with some coerced into financing the upfront payment for portfolio photographs 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. Money from the scam was laundered through UK bank accounts before being transferred to Spain or carried in cash on commercial flights by co-conspirators.

The investigation traced substantial sums to Foster, who lived in luxury abroad and purchased high-end watches and cars with the proceeds of the fraud.

Judge Dixon said: ‘The business worked on the basis of greed, taking what they could where they could. Some people were so convinced by the level of deception that they took out payday loans, which gives a clear indication as to how manipulative and cynical the fraud was.

‘It was horrible, despicable, dishonest behaviour and every single one of you deserves to go to prison.

‘The officers have carried out an exceptional job to bring these defendants to justice. It was not straightforward or easy. This investigation was conducted with particular skill.  A commendation should be made on the basis of the skill deployed.’

Paul Foster was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison, with 3.5 years each for gang members Michael Foster, 27, and Paul Evans, 39, for conspiracy to defraud and money laundering respectively. The remaining six were given suspended sentences.

Lord Bichard, chair of the National Trading Standards, said: ‘Foster’s cruel exploits left thousands of victims in serious debt, causing lasting emotional distress and significant financial pressures.

‘I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of similar scams to report it to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.’

The National Trading Standards team ran the investigation out of City of York and North Yorkshire Council offices with their support, as well as working with the south west NTS investigations team.