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A man has been fined after he admitted dressing as an admiral without permission at a Remembrance Sunday event.
Jonathan Carley, 65, pleaded guilty to wearing uniform bearing the mark of his majesty’s forces without permission and was fined £500, and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £200 surcharge, at Llandudno magistrates court on Monday.
Addressing Carley, the district judge Gwyn Jones told the defendant that while he accepted he had “laid a wreath respectfully”, his actions had been “foolish” and disrespectful to those “who served in the forces, and for those who have not been able to return”.
He added: “It should have been an opportunity to think about the lives of all those who have served their country and community.
“You were there not as a genuine person, but as someone who came to deceive. Your actions totally disrespect the memories of all those persons who have fallen.
“It’s a sad reflection upon you that you chose to do such a thing on a very difficult day for so many.”
The court heard that Carley, of Harlech, in north Wales, had worn a uniform meant to resemble that of a Royal Navy admiral, despite never holding such a rank in the armed forces, at a Remembrance Sunday event in Llandudno on 9 November 2025.
Carley had attended the event in a uniform he later told police had been legitimately issued to him as a cadet years ago, but that he had customised it with medals bought online and rear admiral rings he had paid a tailor to add.
At the event, Carley had been seen walking in formation to the war memorial, saluting the memorial and walking away. Suspicion arose after photos and videos of Carley dressed as an admiral appeared online, despite Llandudno town council, which organises the event, confirming no one of that rank had been due to attend the ceremony.
According to James Neary, prosecuting, Carley wore medals from conflicts such as Iraq and Syria, and had even approached organisers to introduce himself and chat. He also walked alongside a genuine veteran of the armed forces while they laid a wreath.
When police approached Carley he was reported to have told the arresting officers: “I’ve been expecting you.” He later told them he had faked his seniority as a member of the armed forces because he wanted a sense of “belonging and affirmation” and claimed that “anything I did was done with the utmost respect”.
Mark Haslam, Carley’s lawyer, described the case as “very sad” and claimed that Carley had “ongoing” mental and physical health issues, and that he had been “publicly humiliated” for his actions.
“He wanted to be a part of the proceedings, but he accepts through me that his way of playing a part was totally inappropriate,” Haslam told the court.
“He should never have been in that position, wearing the uniform or the medals. He has accepted that from the outset.
“He seriously underestimated the anxiety, anger and distress that his actions have caused a large number of people. He no longer does so.”
