Jonathan Carley was found to have ‘set out to deceive’ members of the public attending a Remembrance Day service in Llandudno, Wales, by posing as a Royal Navy admiral
A man who gate-crashed a Remembrance Day event posing as an admiral allegedly boasted to neighbours that he was a NATO “spy” who was helping the military organisation “monitor the Russians”.
Jonathan Carley sparked outrage after he attended a ceremony marking fallen soldiers in Llandudno, North Wales, during which he laid a wreath while dressed in a Rear Admiral’s uniform. Carley, 65, who also had 12 medals pinned to his jacket, had however never joined the Navy, and his fakeout was eventually uncovered after his picture was posted online, and he was humiliated and arrested.
He had posed as top brass prior to the event, as he had told neighbours – who were convinced he had a “military bearing” – that he was also working under NATO.
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Carley had mentioned he had “been in naval intelligence”, according to one neighbour who lived near his £700,000 property in Harlech, Gwynedd. They told the Daily Mail: “He told a few of us that he was in the navy. We’d also seen him in his uniform once or twice, so it all seemed to fit.
“But he also mentioned that he had been in naval intelligence and that he had been monitoring the Russians. It was all a bit vague mind so we should have known.
“He is very polite and well-spoken and had a military bearing, so it was believable. However, it was all a pack of lies. He’s obviously a very sad man to have made it all up.” Carley, a former history teacher, was apprehended by police after photographers taking pictures at the November 9, 2025 Llandudno event realised he was sporting an unusually large sword.
He told police “I’ve been expecting you” when he was apprehended at his home, with authorities later recovering the ceremonial sword alongside a pristine military uniform and medals.
He was fined £500 after he admitted to dressing as a navy admiral without permission at the event, having been charged with wearing uniform or dress bearing the mark of His Majesty’s Forces without permission. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £200 surcharge at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court.
Carley, the court heard, had told police the naval uniform was issued to him while he was serving in the cadets, but that he had embellished it with rear admiral rings added by a tailor and medals he had bought online.
District Judge Gwyn Jones said during the hearing that Carley had “set out to deceive” people attending the ceremony instead of taking a “genuine opportunity” to think about “all those who have suffered for their country and community”.
He said: “”It should have been a genuine opportunity to remember and think about the lives of all those who have served their country and their community.
“Your actions totally disrespected all those who have fought. It is a sad reflection upon you that you chose to do such a thing on such a difficult day for so many.”
