A 65-year-old man has been fined nearly £800 after pleading guilty to wearing a Royal Navy admiral's uniform without permission at a Remembrance Sunday event in Llandudno, north Wales.
Jonathan Carley, of Harlech, attended the ceremony on 9 November 2025 in a uniform he had customised with medals bought online and rear admiral rings added by a tailor. He had never held such a rank in the armed forces.
At Llandudno Magistrates' Court on Monday, Carley pleaded guilty to wearing uniform bearing the mark of His Majesty's forces without permission. He was fined £500 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £200 surcharge.
District Judge Gwyn Jones told Carley his actions were 'foolish' and disrespectful to those who served, adding: '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.'
The court heard Carley had walked in formation to the war memorial, saluted, and laid a wreath. Suspicion arose after photos and videos appeared online, as Llandudno town council confirmed no admiral was due to attend. When arrested, Carley told police he had faked his seniority for a sense of 'belonging and affirmation'.
Carley's lawyer, Mark Haslam, described the case as 'very sad', noting his client had mental and physical health issues and had been 'publicly humiliated'. Carley accepted his actions were 'totally inappropriate'.
