Fake admiral is fined for Remembrance Day antics

Man, 65, wore medals bought online 'for sense of belonging'

- By DAVID POWELL Daily Post Reporter

(PA WIRE)

AT first glance Jonathan David Carley looked every inch a retired senior military officer. Tall and distinguished, with a confident, slightly aloof bearing that one would come to expect from one of the most senior officers in the Royal Navy.

Carley had appeared at Remembrance Day parades in North Wales dating back to at least 2018 where he was pictured in Caernarfon wearing the fake rear admiral uniform alongside dignitaries, including the former North Wales Police chief constable Carl Foulkes.

But suspicions were aroused at a Llandudno Remembrance event this year which ultimately led to his appearance before a judge yesterday in the freezing resort town.

Doubts were raised in November last year when he turned up wearing what seemed to be a poorly-fitting uniform and non-regulation shirt whilst displaying a chest covered in medals that some claimed could not have been earned in combination.

The suspected impersonator displayed the Distinguished Service Order, traditionally bestowed upon infantry officers: no active Royal Navy officer has received the DSO and it hasn't been awarded for over three decades.

He also sported the Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal, which is granted solely to military reservists and which no DSO recipient has ever been given.

Two additional reserve long service medals were also visible and he was seen wearing an Operation Telic medal (Iraq).

Carley was reported to the Walter Mitty Hunters Club, an online group that investigates alleged fraudulent military claims.

According to Llandudno Town Council, when the parade marshal approached the man during the ceremony, he insisted he was there on behalf of the Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd. But the council said he was not on their guest list.

Carley's game was up. It was the day justice finally caught up with the fake rear admiral.