House of Horrors kidnap plot

THE tycoon's daughter missing in the House of Horror inferno was the target of a mysterious KIDNAP plot.

As police yesterday recovered two bodies and vital CCTV footage from Christopher Foster's burned-out mansion the News of the World learned he feared a gang planned to snatch Kirstie, 15, and demand a huge ransom.

And in a sensational development, post mortem results have today revealed one body is that of wife Jill, and the other is that of an adult male.

Jill, identified by dental records, died from a gunshot wound, cops say.

Speaking of the kidnap plot, close family friend revealed: "Christopher was horrified when he found out, tipped off the cops and brought in massive security."

The millionaire tycoon at the centre of the mansion massacre mystery was living a secret DOUBLE LIFE.

And yesterday’s discovery of two bodies in the charred ruin of Christopher’s home only posed more questions.

As forensic teams armed with dental records today try to identify the grim remains AND scour the six-acre spread for a third corpse, we sensationally reveal how the 50-year-old tycoon:

CLAIMED he foiled a kidnap plot aimed at daughter Kirstie, 15.

FAKED the lifestyle of a wealthy country squire alongside wife Jill HIDING the truth that his fortune was going down the pan.

BRAGGED to pals and locals how he landed a £35 million deal for his firm the same year his business went into liquidation.

ILLEGALLY withdrew £1.7 million from his own company.

CONFIDED to a pal just weeks ago that the family had become victims of a major credit card fraud with wife Jillian’s details being cloned.

Cops last night refused to confirm whether Foster is the ONLY missing member of the family but put out an all ports alert in case he has FLED abroad.

Our detailed aerial shot, above right, of gutted £1.2 million Osbaston House YESTERDAY reveals the daunting task facing the investigation team. But detectives hope CCTV footage that miraculously survived Tuesday’s blaze at the estate in Maesbrook, near Oswestry, Shropshire, will provide vital clues.

We can reveal GUNSHOTS were heard at the house just a few hours before the fire AND officers have now quizzed local firearms shop bosses asking if Foster bought BULLETS in the days leading to the drama. The family’s horses were found shot AND burnt.

When the tycoon feared gangsters were about to kidnap his teenage daughter he told only his closest pals. At the time he was openly enjoying his multi-millionaire lifestyle but was shocked to learn that had made him a target.

Our source said: “Christopher was obviously very worried. He’s a family man and his wife and daughter are everything to him.

“The thought of them being harmed filled him with horror and fear. This was a very serious threat and the plot was at an advanced stage.

“He was terrified but thankfully he found out in time and was able to take action to foil it. He told me he called in the police and stepped up security hugely. He spent a small fortune.

“He knew it was his money that had attracted the attention of gangsters who thought they could secure a big ransom. And everyone knew Christopher would never gamble on Kirstie’s safety.

“But he found out about the plot just in time. He said he followed police advice and made the house like a fortress. He was taking no chances.”

In the days leading up to the fire Foster still kept up his image of the big-spending tycoon with a passion for fast cars, riding and shooting.

A close friend said he never gave any hint of marital problems with 49-year-old wife Jill and appeared to be a “doting” husband and father.

But there was a secret dark side with mystery money deals and enemies in the underworld which he kept from his wealthy circle of pals.

Our source told us: “Christopher seemed absolutely fine, he was happy, in good spirits and there was nothing in his state of mind which gave me any cause for concern. He didn’t say he had any money problems at all. But it’s quite clear to me now he had many deep secrets and was a man who could lead two very different lives without letting on.”

Village locals saw only the wealthy landowner with rich boy’s toys and a daughter at pricey private school. Most were unaware his company Ulva Ltd—which dealt in insulation technology for pipelines — went into compulsory liquidation last September owing £1million to suppliers and £800,000 to the taxman.

Foster was then said to have transferred assets from that company to a new one he set up called Ulva International. A judge described that as “an exercise in asset stripping” and branded Foster “not to be trusted”.

And the News of the World has discovered that in 2005 Foster mysteriously borrowed £1.7million from company cash. It was repaid by April 2006 but top forensic accountant Julian Glass told us last night: “A loan of more than £5,000 from a company to a director is ILLEGAL under the Companies Act 1985.”

Friends also didn’t know that Foster’s deepening problems threatened his HOME, which was on the brink of being seized by liquidators.

One shocked pal said: “Christopher seemed to be doing very well. Last year he said he’d just returned from New Orleans with a £35 million deal for his company. I imagined even if he made only 10 per cent for himself he wouldn’t have money worries for a long time.

“The house was his family’s dream home—he spent £52,000 on just the front windows. He also bought a Ferrari 430 which set him back about £130,000 but sold it 10 weeks later.

“He claimed he made a profit but maybe looking back the real reason for him selling was to do with cash problems in the company."

Police yesterday recovered two badly burnt computers from the ashes and took them away for examination. Kirstie was online to friends until suddenly getting cut off at 1am just hours before the fire.

Detectives are also trawling through Foster’s company accounts, tracing all his business associates and searching abroad to establish if he had any possible bolthole properties overseas.

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Family caught in card fraud

JUST three weeks before the devasting blaze Christopher Foster complained that his family had been the VICTIMS of a major credit card fraud.

A close pal revealed: “I believe the scam ran into thousands but he still hadn’t got to the bottom of it.

“His wife Jill had used their card on the internet to buy some computers and their details were stolen or cloned. This was obviously another stress and problem which Christopher had been forced to deal with.”

And it also emerged last night that Foster narrowly missed being killed by a falling tree branch in his grounds, pinpointed right, just two weeks ago.

Farrier Ian Coe witnessed the near-miss and said the businessman and his wife then shared a joke about needing to “up” his life insurance.

Week of tragedy

MONDAY: Christopher, Jill and Kirstie go to friend’s BBQ then return home. Kirstie chats to pals on internet.

TUESDAY: Kirstie goes off-line abruptly at 1am. Blaze starts around 4am. Fire-fighters called at 5am.

WEDNESDAY: Detectives appeal for information about family’s whereabouts and release a photo.

THURSDAY: Cops search outhouses.

FRIDAY: Two bodies found in main house during night.

SATURDAY: Search for third body continues.