Scott Timlin appeared on Geordie Shore between 2012 and 2019 won Celebrity Big Brother in 2016
Kristy Dawson Multi-Media Journalist
15:29, 20 Feb 2026
Scotty T arriving at Southwark Crown Court in London on Friday(Image: PA)
A Geordie Shore star is one of seven reality TV personalities who have admitted illegal promotion of foreign exchange trading on Instagram. Scott Timlin, known as Scotty T, appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London on Friday.
The 37-year-old admitted being one of seven influencers who broke the law when acting as so-called “finfluencers”. The others are Lauren Goodger, 39, Yazmin Oukhellou, 31, Rebecca Gormley, 27, Biggs Chris, 33, Jamie Clayton, 34, and Eva Zapico, 27.
The court heard how they urged their “significant” number of Instagram followers to sign up to an account offering FX trading tips, despite having no qualifications or authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
The FCA launched the landmark criminal prosecution against the reality stars in summer 2024, accusing them of making social media posts plugging FX trading signals while unregulated.
Love Island star Zapico pleaded guilty in October 2024. Gormley and Chris, who also appeared on Love Island, admitted the charges against them last year. Goodger, who appeared on The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE), pleaded guilty last month.
Timlin, who appeared on MTV show Geordie Shore between 2012 and 2019 and won Celebrity Big Brother in 2016, Love Island’s Clayton and Oukhellou, from TOWIE, appeared before the court on Friday. They entered their own guilty pleas to the charge of communicating an invitation or inducement to engage in investment opportunities.
Scott Timlin, known has Scotty T(Image: PA)
Judge Sally-Ann Hales KC lifted reporting restrictions on the guilty pleas and sentences passed. She took the step following an application by the Press Association.
The judge noted that social media is “awash” with posts promoting FX signals and trades with little indication of how they are controlled or regulated. She said: “There is a public interest in reporting of this matter.”
When Goodger was sentenced in January, she broke down in tears as Southwark Crown Court heard how she had made a series of posts in 2020 and 2021 to promote an FX trading tips account she knew little about. The court heard she was paid £2,275 for four posts.
She had more than 750,000 followers on Instagram at the time, and one of the videos she created and posted had around 35,000 views. Prosecutor Catherine Rabaiotti said: “This defendant had achieved media and public interest due to her presence on a reality TV show.”
The court heard how her posts advertised “amazing deals”, “free signals”, and “consistent profits” and suggested there was “no experience needed”. Ms Rabaiotti said: “The defendant was not authorised by the FCA to conduct any regulated activity.
“One member of the public saw a story video from this defendant. It appeared on her Instagram account. She had not heard of Forex trading.”
She said Goodger’s posts on social media “persuaded her” to join the scheme, believing it was legitimate. But the prosecutor said the victim lost £150 of her £250 investment.
She said: “Her attempts at trading did not go well. She was completely naive.”
In interview, Goodger admitted making the social media posts but insisted “she wouldn’t promote something she didn’t believe was legitimate”. The judge accepted that in 2020 and 2021 the reality star “didn’t appreciate you were doing anything wrong”.
But she highlighted that Goodger had chosen not to consult with her agent and manager before agreeing to the posts, and noted she is “not new to fame”. The judge ordered Goodger to pay a £3,750 fine, as well as costs of £5,778.18, telling her the sentence was intended to deter others from breaking strict regulations on financial trading.
She said: “You have been in the public eye for some time when you committed this offence. You must have appreciated the influence lending your name and endorsement would have on members of the public. our motive in doing what you did was wholly financial.”
Zapico received an absolute discharge and was ordered to pay £1770 in costs, Gormley received a conditional discharge with costs of £2866 and Chris was fined £600.
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