Former soldier pretended to be relatives of war heroes for medals

A FORMER soldier "tarnished the memory of brave servicemen" by applying for war medals he was not entitled to, a court heard.

- JASON EVANS Reporter

Swansea Crown Court was told David Stewart spent a decade using a variety of names to make fraudulent applications for decorations belonging to airmen who took part in the Second World War.

Craig Jones, prosecuting, told the court Stewart's offending was "sophisticated, persistent and repeated in its nature" and included submitting false documents.

He said the detection and investigation of the scam involved considerable time and resources by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the police, including researching family trees.

The court heard the offending began in 2012 with Stewart, 61, making the first of what would be a series of requests for medals for airman Ellis Edward Huxter, including the 1939-45 Star, Aircrew Europe Star, War Medal and Bomber Command Clasp.

The court heard that Stewart claimed to be a nephew of Mr Huxter. The medals had previously been issued to the next of kin, so no medals were issued. A genealogist researched the airman's family tree and found the defendant appeared to be a first cousin once removed.