Model Industry Union - Get Involved

Name of Company / Individual Steve /  Steve Smith @ Welsh Glamour Photography Details of Complaint Received 
The photographer approaches models asking if they would like to feature within a new magazine publication.  If the model does not provide a topless image immediately, the response is quite often;
"Thanks for getting back to me. I do have a position on the shoot I spoke about for just a lingerie model. The editor has insisted that all the models supply a topless photo but only I would see it. It wouldn't be published. Providing you sent me a topless photo I could confirm to the editor that you were natural and suitable for the shoot. I would then recommend you for just the implied nude and lingerie photos. You will still get the full fee of £800 plus all your expenses. If your ok with this please supply me with one topless photo which can be a pro shot or simply a photo taken by yourself. I just need to confirm to the editor that you have supplied it. Hope to hear from you soon and look forward to working together in this project. Steve, Welsh Glamour Photography."
 
If you are looking to do glamour / lingerie work no agent/scout will ask to see topless pictures.  If they would like to see your ability/look they will ask to see your model portfolio or do a casting. 
 
Our Conclusion
We believe that there is no intention to book/pay any of the models this individual has contacted. We do believe that the scam is for sexual gratification. However, these scams can develop into both financial risks if the individual were to send a fee for £800 and then ask for some form for commission, or, if he asks for meets we may be concerned about possible physical risks.  We would warn any model that has contact by this person, from email singingman123@gmail.com  to let us know immediately. The small print The details of this complaint are provided after a full and thorough investigation has taken place. The in-depth detail of the investigations is not provided online for legal reasons. Should you disagree with the above warning or wish to add any further detail, please contact us at complaints@miu.org.uk

Steve Smith Welsh Glamour Photography

Name of Company / Individual
Paul Stafford /
 Details of Complaint Received
We had a anonymous tip off from a concerned member of the public, informing us of Paul Stafford background and that he is a convicted sex offender (copy of the newspaper article we were sent);
"A PROFESSIONAL photographer was jailed for three years after he was convicted of taking indecent pictures in his studio of a teenage schoolgirl. A court heard Paul Stafford hoped to make money by setting up a website on the internet with the sordid snaps using titles such as 'homework horrors.' Stafford, 52, a father of four, of Speak Close, Eastmoor, Wakefield was found guilty by a jury of one charge of taking indecent photographs and two offences of indecent assault on a 13-year-old girl. He was cleared of a fourth offence of indecency with a child. Explicit The court heard Stafford had gained the trust of a mother of two daughters, one of whom had shown an interest in modelling. "But things progressed from inappropriate to indecent images which became more explicit," said Sharon Beattie, prosecuting. The offences took place during one week in January last year when the teenager's mother was not present. "Whether the photographs were destined for the website is unclear, but that may be what he had in mind," she said. When he was arrested, Stafford said the girl was lying and the only photographs he took of her were "arty". In evidence, he denied taking advantage of the girl but admitted: "With hindsight it was not the most appropriate thing to have done." Jailing Stafford, who has no previous convictions, Judge James Spencer QC told him: "You have been convicted of very serious offences. "I am quite satisfied that when you were approached by the mother of these girls you set about a course of grooming and then exploitation and abuse. "You saw in that family an opportunity to satisfy your own greed and lust." He said once the photographer had gained the family's confidence and trust he was "quite ready and eager" to abuse that trust. The girl was an enthusiastic model but the family's trust was pushed by him to the "limits". Judge Spencer added that having taken indecent photographs he compounded that by indecently assaulting the 13-year-old. "You did it for money and in order to sell the photographs," he said. Stafford's name will be added to the sex offenders' register for life. By Rod Hopkinson Yorkshire Evening Post"
One model goes on to say;
"I was pushed into posing bottomless. I am really worried as he still has these pictures and i know that they could be very damaging to me."
A second model goes on;
"I would like to make an official complaint against Paul J stafford i had 3 Photoshoots with paul.. this was my first insight in to my career dream (which now has been shattered) each shoot took place at his home in the living room in wakefield the first shoot he was very polite kind and wiling to work at my pace the second time he told me i have to have alot more confidence and also try new things.... Topless, naked and so on i didnt wish to do any of this as i just wanted to do lingerie. Paul constantly bugged me to try topless and if i didnt want to try that... he ask about implied i felf forced towards doing this as he ask me constantly. I did implied but half the time he was making weird remarks to me about how i looked, most of the time my breasts werent covered i asked for the nipples to be covered he did take many pictures of me doing so and seeing my nipples he told me that he would remove the picture off his memory card later when he had more time so i trusted him to do so. The 3rd shoot he asked me to try new looks using my own thoughts and ideas but also then him adding his own saying i shouldnt wear any makeup as the pictures will look better and also in a school girl type uniform."
 
Our Conclusion
There is lots more information that we can not provide on this warning, as this is now a police matter.  We would like to warn all models that are approached by this photographer, who also goes by the name "Paul Mullins" to report the matter and not to attend any shoots. It is perfectly clear from his conviction that this offender is a dangerous man who poses a real physical risk to models. 
We have received news 19/10/2010 that he has made further contact to two models. Please be aware this individual is dangerous and should not be approached.
21/02/2011 - Please note Paul Mullins is also the name of a geniune model agent operating www.unborn-models.co.uk and is not associated with Mr Stafford or any other scam
The small print The details of this complaint are provided after a full and thorough investigation has taken place. The in-depth detail of the investigations is not provided online for legal reasons. Should you disagree with the above warning or wish to add any further detail, please contact us at complaints@miu.org.uk

Paul Stafford

Name of Company / Individual Phillip Brindle, Photographer and His wife Victoria Brindle (now deceased) Details of Complaint Received
We have received many messages of support for the victims of these crimes. We have spoken directly to two of the past victims of Mr Brindle's whom have provided brief details of the events that happened during their ordeals. The couple seem to have lured their victims because of their setup; they simply didn't believe they needed to be worried about a mature couple as most warnings they had read where about males. Both of the victims said that they were quite impressionable at the time and that the couple seems quite geniune.
Both victims described how they were given very poorly constructed handwritten releases, saying that they will wear / do anything he asks them to.  One of the victims only ever shot once with the couple and was not abused in any other way that having Mr Brindle touch her and himself inappropriately. The other victim that refuses to speak with the police, as her new family do not know of the ordeal was raped by Mr Brindle as his wife held her down, the whole ordeal was recorded, death threats were made against her and she moved away from her friends and family in Manchester and moved to Birmingham.  She is now medicated for depression and suffers from agoraphobia.  She tells us how even after the attack Mr Brindle was discussing future shoots, how she could makes lots of money if she "was a good girl".
Our Conclusion
These individuals were able to get away with their crimes for 15+ years, within their then home town of Wigan. The police have discovered masses of photos and videos of young women, not all identified.  Unfortunately, as many of the people who have had contact from the individual and were abused/subjected to the treatment of him and his wife do not want to talk to the police, the real number of women will never really be known. 
Phillip Brindle will be sentenced during October 2010 and will not be able to apply for parole until at least 2021. He will remain on the sex offenders register for life.  However, we would like to highlight this case to demonstrate that no matter how innocent a photographer may seem, if you don't do your checks you can ruin your life for just a few hours! The small print
The details of this complaint are provided after a full and thorough investigation has taken place. The in-depth detail of the investigations is not provided online for legal reasons. Should you disagree with the above warning or wish to add any further detail, please contact us at miu.org.uk

Phillip & Victoria Brindle, Wigan/Ladock

Rob Redliner Wells / (not) Redline Magazine

Katrina Ward, 31, a mum-of-two, created a fake profile on the social networking site belonging to the fictional 'Jada Harris' - complete with a picture of a beautiful unknown brunette. She claimed she worked for a modelling agency in London, but she actually worked for a car supplier in Hull, East Yorks., and had used the alias in the past to spy on ex-boyfriends.   But when she befriended a male acquaintance who she had a vendetta against, Ward and her lovestruck boyfriend Michael Willingham, 23, conned him into thinking 'Jada' wanted a relationship with him and was moving to Hull. They arranged for him to hand over £400 in a pub car park - claiming it to be for a deposit for Jada's new house - and persuaded him to film himself taking part in a sexual act which they then posted on YouTube, linking it from the Facebook site for all to see. Wllingham then rang the man claiming he was Jada's father, adding that she was just 15, and threatening to call the police unless he handed over a further £1,250 for her 'school fees'. Willingham has now been jailed for 14 months after admitting blackmail and Ward was given a six-month sentence suspended for two years after pleading guilty to theft. Ward's friend Victoria Bucknall, 23, who collected the 400 pounds from the man, was ordered to complete 70 hours of unpaid work after admitting money laundering. Judge John Dowse told Willingham: "After your partner explained to you about the site you came up with a scheme to get money from your victim. It was carefully planned and meant to impose distress." Prosecuting at Hull Crown Court, James Byatt explained that Ward had created 'Jada Harris' two years ago to spy on ex-boyfriends, but when the acquaintance - who cannot be identified for legal reasons - made an "unkind comment" to Ward, the pair hatched a plan to "teach him a lesson" and Ward sent him a friend request. Mr Byatt said: "Willingham became aware of this Facebook site and lured the complainant into thinking Jada desired a relationship. "He accepted the friend request, they chatted on MSN and exchanged mobile phone numbers and text messages, which gradually became of a sexual nature. "During the day Ward would pretend to be Jada and during the evening Willingham would pose as her online and via text messages. "They then asked him to send a video of him taking part in a sexual act and a naked picture of him which he did. "This was subsequently put on YouTube and linked via Jada's Facebook site. Jada then led the complainant to believe that she was unhappy in London and was moving to Hull, and asked if he would supply £400 for a house deposit which he readily agreed to do." This led to a meeting in a pub car park on April 8 this year, where Bucknall claimed to be a friend of Jada. He handed over the cash after a mobile phone call from the 'model' - who in reality was Ward speaking with a fake voice from Willingham's car nearby. The pair handed 20 pounds to Bucknall - who was unaware of the scale of the deception - and then told their victim Jada was catching a train to Hull two days later. When she failed to show and the victim began calling, Willingham answered but concocted a blackmail plan. Mr Byatt said: "He said 'You've been had. She's not the person you think she is, she's 15. I've seen the disgusting video and photo. If you don't pay for her to go to boarding school I'll call the police." He then demanded a further £1,250 - but the next day the suspicious defendant went to police. While he was there Willingham texted him with further threats about where he was planning to post the video and picture. A victim impact statement read to court revealed the man felt "deceived, betrayed and threatened" by the couple who he considered to be friends. He was "terrified" about where the video and picture could end up. Mr Byatt added that Ward had made a similar attempt to con another man last year, before she met Willingham, but this had failed. Defending Ward, Chris Dunn said: "She wanted to teach him a lesson after he made an unkind comment to her, and did a very stupid thing that's caused an awful lot of damage and distress." Defending Willingham, Paul Genney said he was "obsessed" with Ward, explaining: "He has accepted sole responsibility for the blackmail. He was, and is, in love with a more sophisticated partner who is considerably older and more mature." Ward was told to repay £380 to the victim, pay £100 costs and complete 100 hours of unpaid work.

Katrina Ward / Jada Harris

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Dr Davide Dragone and Dr Luca Savorelli, researchers at the University of Bologna, claim that by getting rid of super-skinny models will wosen the nations obesity epidemic.
Within their paper ""Thinness and Obesity: A Model of Food Consumption, Health Concerns, and Social Pressure" they write: 'If being overweight is the average condition and the ideal body weight is thin, increasing the ideal body weight may increase welfare by reducing social pressure. 'By contrast, health is on average reduced, since people depart even further from their healthy weight. 'Given that in the US and in Europe people are on average overweight, we conclude that these policies, even when are welfare improving, may foster the obesity epidemic.'
The paper comes at a time where there has been a reported 80% increase in the rise of the number of young girls admitted to hospital during the last decade due to anorexia.
Simon Lawton-Smith from Mental Health Foundation, goes on to say 'The idealising of underweight models can set unrealistic expectations. 'A perceived failure to meet these expectations can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety and serious mental health problems such as depression. 'These in turn can increase the likelihood of developing an eating disorder.' Furthermore, we believe that the main issue has been overlooked. Models are not toys that can be played with for the purpose of public education. These are real people, people that have and can die because of malnutrition, that suffer a variety of physical and mental issues because of trying to achieve something that is un-natural and impossible for a good portion of the population.
If life were as simple as a text book, these researchers may well make a fair point. However, before trying to undo years of hard work from all those who have campaigned for a healthier industry, these researchers should go and discuss the reality of size zero goals with those parents that have lost their teenage children to this "ideal".

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