How fake admiral Jonathan Carley was caught by sword and rare medals

FOR former history teacher Jonathan Carley it must have felt like the walls had suddenly closed in on him as police looking for a fake Royal Navy officer knocked on the door of his large clifftop home.

Inside, officers uncovered an immaculate military uniform, medals and a ceremonial sword, a weapon that sparked initial suspicion.

Police were following reports that Carley, who attended Sunday’s Remembrance ceremony in North Wales dressed as a Rear Admiral, was actually an imposter.

On Monday, he Fined £500 after admitting wearing a uniform or dress bearing the insignia of Her Majesty’s Forces without permission.

The 65-year-old man joined wreath-layers in saluting the war memorial at a ceremony in Llandudno last November.

Serving and former service personnel had become suspicious of the so-called rear admiral, the third-highest rank in the Royal Navy, when they saw his sword and rare Distinguished Service Order medal.

“There is a descent from Victoria Cross,” Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry told the BBC.

He said the DSO medal was an “easy point” because it was an outstanding award and only a small percentage of navy recruits reached Rear Admiral.

“At the head of the Navy you’re eight ranks above and two below,” said Parry, who left the Royal Navy in 2008.

Carley had been attending events for years wearing the epaulettes and sleeve lace of a rear admiral, but some were waiting to catch her.

Unknown to Carley, the former private school teacher’s fraud began to be revealed at a rainy Remembrance Day parade in Llandudno in 2024 – a year before he died. appeared on national news.

When he first noticed Carley, photographer Tony Mottram, who was taking photos at the seaside resort’s annual event in 2024, explained, “She had a huge sword on her, and that’s what really stood out because we’d never seen her before.”

He said Carley’s medals, sword and being alone made people uneasy.

“He stayed in the background but that’s why he was suspicious,” said the 63-year-old, who was in the Territorial Army and served in the Royal Air Force.

“The rest of us all knew each other by name. He just stayed out of sight. He was a bit of a loner, no one was talking to him.”

Mottram did his best to obtain photographic evidence of the mysterious Rear Admiral from 2024, but before they knew it he had disappeared.

There was anger among some veterans and they came to an agreement that they would be ready if the fake Rear Admiral tried it again.

So when Carley, from Harlech in Gwynedd, reappeared at Remembrance Sunday 2025, albeit without his sword, Mr Mottram was making no mistake.

“This year I looked at it more… and studied the tunic neckline, cut and length,” he said.

“The bend wasn’t right, the length wasn’t right. You either go toward the parade or you don’t go at all.”

Carley wore a number of medals on his chest, including the DSO, awarded for highly successful command and leadership during active operations, an honor that very few personnel have been awarded since 1979.

Chief Petty Officer Terry Stewart had been forewarned about what would happen in 2024 and, after 27 years in the Royal Navy, was suspicious of the rear admiral who would attend the 2025 parade with him.

“I asked the veterans around if this was last year’s rear admiral. They said yes,” said CPO Stewart, who left the parade to follow the admiral.

“I approached him, said hello and introduced myself,” Stewart added.

“I said the Royal Navy veterans didn’t know about him and asked his name. He said he ‘had to go’ and said he had been invited by the Lord Lieutenant’s office.”

He said Carley returned the greeting, gave her full name and appeared confident and “not worried at all.”

Stewart was convinced he was talking to a fake person.

Carley was charged by police under an 1800s law banning the wearing of a military uniform without permission and on Monday became the eighth person in the UK to appear in court in 10 years accused of the offence.

There is no similar law for people who wear medals or make up stories without dressing up.

BBC News asked Carley about her motivation but she did not comment.

In his statement to the police, he said he wanted a sense of “belonging and validation”.

Photos and videos posted online show Llandudno was not the first place Carley dressed as the Rear Admiral.

He has been photographed at other Remembrance ceremonies in North Wales since 2018, shortly after he is believed to have moved to the area.

In one video, he appears to be giving a public speech at the Rorke’s Drift memorial event in his admiral’s uniform, complete with sword.

Ironically, he was paying tribute to the military reenactors who were there.

Andy Gittens first met Carley a few months before her Rorke’s Drift speech, after she began attending rehearsals for the male voice choir.

“I think she said it was Navy. I don’t remember her saying a rank,” recalled Gittens, who said Carley didn’t sing with them for long.

“From what I remember, he was very rarely there,” the former Gwynedd firefighter said.

But when Gittens’ choir attended Harlech Castle for the Rorke’s Drift tribute in 2019, they instantly recognized Carley.

“We gathered for rehearsal with the band and choir in the morning. He was nowhere to be seen.

“He suddenly appears in this uniform. Normally these events are handled by the Lord Lieutenant, but he appeared larger than life.

“He was completely believable, fully dressed with his sword. Then he proceeded to take over.”

Gittens said that despite his initial surprise at seeing Carley in this new role, he had no reason to doubt her until he saw the latest news.

“He was a very easy-going, very nice and convincing guy,” she said.

In the past, Carley has given newspaper interviews about studying and rowing at Oxford and Harvard, as well as teaching at some of the country’s most prestigious schools, including Eton, Cheltenham and Shiplake College.

Cheltenham College confirmed that Carley taught history and politics there between 1988 and 1992.

This period also appears to have been his only real contact with the military; His name appeared in the London Gazette in 1991 as part of the college’s Combined Cadet Force.

After teaching, Carley is understood to have worked as a rowing coach at Christ Church College, Oxford University, for several years.

One former student said he was “completely stunned” to see his former coach on the news, while others described a coach who was respected and “warm, witty, fun.”

“His role was as head coach of at least a few men’s boats and coordinator of all things rowing at Christ Church,” said one former student.

“He was very good at motivating the crew. His speeches seemed scripted. I think the other rowers really respected him. People worked really hard for him.”

Carley’s former student said he “never believed” he would do such a thing.

Eton College and Oxford University did not respond to requests for comment.