Man admits dressing as fake navy admiral at Remembrance event

A man has admitted dressing as a navy admiral without permission at a Remembrance Sunday event.

Jonathan Carley, 65, from Harlech in Gwynedd, was charged with wearing uniform or dress bearing the mark of His Majesty's Forces without permission.

He was arrested at his home after images of him wearing the uniform of one of the Royal Navy's most senior ranks, along with a raft of medals - including a Distinguished Service Order - were shared on social media.

It followed concerns raised by serving and former service personnel at the wreath-laying service at Llandudno in north Wales.

Carley, who appeared at Llandudno Magistrates' Court on Monday, was seen wearing the epaulettes and sleeve lace of a Rear Admiral, a two-star position that is one of the highest ranks in the Royal Navy, at the event in November.

He was witnessed walking in formation to the war memorial before a wreath was laid by another individual, and then saluted at the war memorial before marching away.

Llandudno Town Council, which organised the Remembrance event, confirmed that no-one of the senior rank had been due to attend the ceremony.

Carley faced a single charge of being a person not serving in HM military forces, wearing without His Majesty's permission a uniform and dress bearing the regimental or other distinctive mark of the military force, namely The Royal Navy.

The court was told that is an offence under the Uniforms Act, which dates back to 1894.