A man who falsely claimed to be an admiral was caught wearing a naval uniform without authorization at a Remembrance Sunday event. Jonathan Carley, a 65-year-old resident of Harlech, Gwynedd, admitted to donning the uniform to seek a sense of belonging. However, he was reprimanded by magistrates in Llandudno for wearing attire bearing His Majesty’s Forces’ insignia without permission.
Carley was spotted wearing the unauthorized uniform during the Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Llandudno on November 9. He informed the police that he had originally received the naval uniform during his time in the cadets.
Despite this, Carley had embellished the uniform with rear admiral rings from a tailor and purchased medals online. District Judge Gwyn Jones imposed a £500 fine on Carley and instructed him to pay £85 for prosecution costs along with a £200 surcharge. The judge expressed disappointment in Carley’s actions, stating that it was inappropriate to do so on such a solemn day for many.
During the well-attended service, Carley was seen wearing medals, including ones for service in Iraq and Syria. He approached event organizers, introduced himself, laid a wreath, saluted, and stood with other dignitaries. His photo circulated on social media, leading to his arrest on November 14, where he provocatively told the police, “I’ve been expecting you.”
In his police interview, Carley mentioned that he wanted to feel a sense of belonging and recognition. Records from the London Gazette indicate that he held a commission in the reserves as a 2nd Lt (on Probation) from July 1991, his only known military service being in the cadet force during his teaching tenure at Cheltenham and Shiplake Colleges.
Carley also made unsubstantiated claims of attending Oxford University and Harvard before teaching at Eton, where notable figures like Princes William and Harry, Boris Johnson, and David Cameron were once students. Police investigated after his social media photo surfaced.