To feel sorry for the fake admiral

[MajesticWhine]

It seems to be a victimless crime and I don’t think he was doing anyone any harm. Given the amount of crimes such as shoplifting that go unpunished AIBU to think this man should be let off with a caution?

‘Fake admiral’ charged after Remembrance memorial
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/4d56e1d99d56fda6

Stolen valour
walter mitty’s
call it what you like -
but
these men often hoodwink women into relationships with them saying they are veterans (sometimes covering for prison time) fake PTSD, use this to excuse their bad behaviour
try to jump wait lists in NHS - (veterans get bumped up - rightly so)
take up valuable mental health services resources for their “stress related to being a veteran”
they are a pain in the arse of society -
they need calling out
obviously not advocating for vigilante ante lynching !!

Why don't we all dress up as admirals on Rememberance Day, after all it's a "victimless crime"? Other veterans, who only have one or two medals, but paid for them with their blood will be insulted, but who cares, right?

Yawn.

Maybe best not to comment on things you clearly don't understand.

I have no sympathy at all . It’s an insult to all those that earnt their medals.

It is still ridiculous and vainglorious in exactly the same way as this buffoon. Except she came out of a special fanny so you have to toady to her nonsense.

So much hate early on a Saturday morning.

There is a history of centuries behind this sort of uniform and role.

I notice you're not commenting on the male members of the RF who didn't serve?

Fraud is fraud. It's the thin end of the wedge.

I have a friend who is a hoarder and when I was trying to help her one of the (many) things I found was about twenty sports medals and little trophies that she had bought in charity shops for her son, who was thirteen. They were in his bedroom as if he had won them.

Out of all the weird things, every ikea cataloge in a pile behind the front door, twenty soup tureens, hundreds of out of date tins of food the medals were the thing I couldn’t understand the most. The kid knew he hadn’t come second in the butterfly race.

I think this probably happens quite often some people just push themselves in the limelight and will tel lie after lie which people often ignore and then they go too far and it can’t be ignored

not surprised to read from pp he has form they always do and likely he wasn’t the only one pretending last week he just couldn’t resist taking it too far

i doubt he feels ashamed

Just honorary titles that come with the job
The RF have always been associated with the military. The Colours were awarded by the Monarch and carried into battle. Officers received their commission into HMRC Armed Forces. Might seem outdated but that's how it was/is. Pretty sure the various Regiments, crews etc don't think about the Royals in their day to day lives

There is no deception in the Royal Families medals. They are either ones that were earned by them during their military service or ones that any one with knowledge of medals knows are 'unearned' ones awarded as a gesture.

This man was wearing medals that are given to servicemen for acts of bravery, valour etc or being in specific campaigns that he wasn't. He was caught because there are no servicemen with the combination of medals he wore. He did not earn these medals but the service personnel he bought them off did.

I can't believe so many on Mumsnet can't see the difference.

Have to admit I was surprised to learn this is a crime, and I feel like various resources could be better used elsewhere. Wouldn't go so far as to feel sorry for him though.

KC did 6 years in the navy. Andrew 22 inc active service. William did time in the army inc Search and Rescue before doing Air ambulance. Harry also did about 15 years in the army including active service.
PP gave up his navy career to support the Queen.

Bit unfair to say they haven't served.

They just don't want to see the difference.

Walt hunting has been going on for years, have a look at Facebook.

There has even been some begrudged admiration as he is now seen as the king of the Walts. Or at least, rear Admiral.

Either way he has ruined his reputation.

He probably used to watch Mr Ben when he was a kid.

You ask @Alwaystheplusone”Is it an insult when King Charles and the rest of them wear rows of medals and uniform despite never having served a day in their lives ?”
I think it is.
Ridiculous and pathetic.
Other royals do it elsewhere too with their various sashes and badges.
In the past were they “bigging themselves up” to be more important than the peasants ?
Now we are not so gullible.

That's the ceremonial stuff. She's the Queens daughter.

She has never claimed to have served in the forces

would you also find it ok ,if someone went around pretending to be a police officer.

I don't think it should be just a caution. It should not be viewed as a prank.

Everyone knows that the royals are just playing dress-up and looking rather silly, but when someone pretends to be something they’re not, like this guy, the consequences can be more serious.

He must be a fantasist. I don’t think it is victimless to take the opportunity and respect that should have been afforded to someone else.

The concept of claiming to be a veteran isn't that unusual, a lot of men claim to have served in the army to new partners when in reality they've done nothing with their lives.

How disrespectful to those who have given their lives and lost loved ones in war.

I know a man like this, a real Walter Mitty type who's told extensive lies about serving in the Army and retelling horrific stories of watching children die slow painful deaths. He lied to a group of us over several years, telling us all slightly different tales each time. When someone called him out on it, he admitted he made everything up and has never served in the Army.

He's still like this years on, has lied about quite serious things, like being diagnosed with schizophrenia, which his wife confirmed isn't true. He is in ill health, but exaggerates his conditions and symptoms. It's hard to imagine why someone would lie about these things. It's quite difficult to have sympathy after a certain point, as it must be awful for his wife and son to have to deal with someone like this.

The question is what was his motive. He was obviously going to end up in the local paper.

Is he also commiting fraud in other ways? Lulling women into a false sense of secuity, I'm ex-navy, look theres me at the rememberance service...the women then think he's an honorable chap?

It not victimless.