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

This. We have my late great uncle's medals from WWII. He was the loveliest man but so terribly effected by what he witnessed in Burma that he would never speak of it and suffered awful night terrors for years. This charlatan waltzing along with his unearned medals is an insult to his memory.

Absolutely no sympathy! My husband served for 24 years, this is a complete insulted to all those who served, fought and died for their Country

It's offensive to people who have genuinely served and especially to those who have lost loved ones in military service - he was doing this at a remembrance service, not walking randomly down the street somewhere,

He may have MH issues, in which case I am sure whoever represents him in the criminal proceedings will make that known and it will be considered in the outcome.

If he's done it in full mental capacity, he deserves to pay a penalty - if I were a judge I'd sentence him to hefty community service - since he's taken the honour of those who genuinely gave service to society, he can have a taste of giving something back himself.

I did too although AMW Esq only made Vice-Admiral (55th birthday pressie) in the end.

He was due to be bumped up to Admiral as a 60th birthday gift but 'honourably' decided not to take it until his name was cleared 🙄

C3 is apparently working to get his VA status removed but I do think he should get to keep his Falklands medal. Unlike so many of the royals he actually earned it.

It’s offensive to those who have served. Those who have the seen and unseen scars of service. Those sadly not with us

You don't get to be a co-pilot unless you are capable of flying the helicopter on your own.

@Susiy

Andrew and Harry were not down in the trenches, they were co-pilots with the emphasis on "co"

Actually no, they both spent at least some of their respective flying careers as aircraft commanders

...and as a general point co-pilots are fully qualified pilots, not some sort of lowly assistant to the boss or bag carrier for the pilot in command.

He obviously has serious MH issues , this could have spiralled into him becoming a danger to other people.He should be sectioned for a short period to be assessed. He could react violently to being confronted with his deception. Or he may be harmless but totally delusional.Either way he needs to be detained for assessment. By what local people have said,he was pushy and because it is a soleme occasion,no one wanted to confront him at the time.
As for his job well , is he really still fit to do it?Part of me feels pity for him,it does but also disgust at not having actually genuinely served his country.

It could be MH issues or simply attention seeking but this kind of thing is more likely linked to some kind of confidence scam. It builds a pattern of authority and trustworthiness that then allows them to gain someone's trust and exploit them.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if there are lots more incidents like this and there is definitely the possibility that it is not just military veterans he is impersonating.
It would be a mistake to think this is harmless.

I’ve known 3 fantasists in my life: one a teacher as this guy was, with a very similar background. He’d create some type of fantasy life and then act it out until found out. He didn’t gain from these monetarily at all. A wonderful inspirational teacher who was much loved despite his oddities.

The second also believed his own dreams and did bizarre things like apply for public roles he’d have no hope of getting and be manifestly unqualified for, eg head of BBC despite having a normal job. Harmless but the mental illness got the better of him in the end.

The third was a woman which is relatively unusual. She claimed to own mega houses she absolutely didn’t, saying she lived modestly for “security reasons”. Of the 3, she was the most sneaky - no public profile etc. - and didn’t respond to challenge well.

My personal opinion is that it’s a form of grandiose illusions. They’re not happy with their (nice) lives and create fantasies where they are “better” versions of themselves. They know they’re not believed.. Basically it’s mental illness.

So if she's never served, why is she walking around in fancy dress?

The only difference between her and the 'rear admiral' is that at least he didn't use taxpayers' cash to pay for his delusions of grandeur.

I think morally, it’s obviously very questionable and I’d find it really weird if I knew him, but I don’t see it as a crime tbh.

She has honorary rank. Like it or not, she is entitled to that uniform.

He's deliberately sought out the bigger events. The town they're reporting him as being from has a remembrance service every year and I've never seen him there.

You don’t think impersonating military personnel is causing harm?

No. There’s no obviously. You don’t know that. Not all unsavoury or odd behaviour is attributable to mental health.You can’t guess risk profile or speculate that he may pose a risk to others. Sectioned? Do you actually mean assessed by AMHP, S12, and psychiatrist to determine if he met threshold for admission and treatment? Spirit of MHAA is least restrictive option, not straight to detection under MHAA.

Your post is hyperbole and speculation

If he has not tried to gain money or gifts it is not so much a criminal offence but morally wrong yes. He definitely needs medical intervention now .

For info.it seems the relevant legislation is the Uniforms Act of 1894 (!!!)

(1)It shall not be lawful for any person not serving in Her Majesty’s Military Forces to wear without Her Majesty’s permission the uniform of any of those forces, or any dress having the appearance or bearing any of the regimental or other distinctive marks of any such uniform: Provided that this enactment shall not prevent . . . . . . any persons from wearing any uniform or dress in the course of a stage play performed in a place duly licensed or authorised for the public performance of stage plays, or in the course of a music hall or circus performance, or in the course of any bona fide military representation...

It is not normal behaviour and could spiral,he needs medical intervention,he really does.

I did not think so in this case, however I understand that’s military veterans are offended by this, and having read everyone’s comments I think IABU and he deserves to answer the charge.

Custody Sargent can refer to psychiatric liaison if there appear to be mental health issues refer to Liaison and Diversion (L&D) service

Yeah I do dislike it, and more and more people are too.
She's literally done fuck all to deserve it- never put her life on the line by serving in the armed forces. All she's done is turn up to taxpayer funded jollies and paraded around. It's especially insulting to the young service people many of whom live in shit accommodation. Like Edward in his fancy dress, a total joke.

I agree with you. But then I'm not a royalist in any way so I don't get it at all but many people do seem to like being associated with them in this way.
However, it's completely different to the man who's been charged. Like it or not, the royals are given the right to wear those uniforms.

In this case, I don’t. I know it could depending on the actions of a person impersonating the military. Like playing dress up as a doctor vs actually fraudulently trying to carry out duties of a doctor. But marching around in fancy dress makes him look a wanker. It’s offensive, yes. But criminal and harmful? I don’t think so.

For me, that's what points to this not being a case of someone having some sort of breakdown or delusional episode. If he genuinely believed he was entitled to that uniform in some sort of a delusional state, he would have been seen wearing it in his home town.

He seems to be fully aware of what he's doing, because he's not risking being recognised at local events. Someone in a genuine state of delusion wouldn't think like that.

Doesn't mean there aren't MH concerns connected to his behaviour, but it does show a level of cognitive awareness. This isn't some harmless old man living in a war film in his head. This is planned.