AN actor who appeared in The Crown has been accused of stolen valour after posing as an officer within the Military reserves.

James Yeates, 42, even attended an Honourable Artillery Firm dinner in full Intelligence Corps mess costume.

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Footage confirmed him carrying three medals – the Queen’s Diamond, Platinum Jubilee and King’s Coronation medals – on the swanky do.

Different on-line photographs noticed him posing in Intelligence Corps fatigues.

However the convicted fraudster was uncovered after veterans launched an investigation following a tip-off.

In actuality, the actor had by no means served a day of his life within the military.

As an alternative, he’s understood to have bought the medals on-line.

In a web-based profile he boasted: “I am a completely educated, enthusiastic and versatile actor, l’m additionally a present serving officer within the British armed forces (reserves).”

When The Solar confronted him he swiftly amended the bio to learn: “I am a completely educated, enthusiastic and versatile actor.”

On one other website, Backstage, he wrote: “Alongside being a professionally educated and dealing actor, I’m additionally a present serving officer within the British Armed Forces (reserves).”

His e-mail auto-signature additionally learn: “Main James Yeates, Co-Founder, Navy and Aviation Advisors.”

However veterans say there isn’t a report of him ever serving within the reserves and no point out of him within the London Gazette which lists each officers’ commissions.

Further Yeates, who posted pictures of himself on the set of the Crown in 2018 and 2019, advised the image of him on the mess dinner was from a movie set.

However livid visitors who additionally attended in March 2024 mentioned an inside investigation was now underway to seek out out who invited him and whether or not he was vetted.

Yeates additionally claimed his agency, Navy and Aviation Advisors, had labored on the movie, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Future, however there isn’t a report displaying their involvement.

The Walter Mitty Hunters Membership, who led the investigation, is now calling for a brand new regulation, the Stolen Valour Act, to make it a prison offence.

A spokesman mentioned: “The only real purpose we exist is due to folks like Yeates.

“If there have been ever a powerful purpose for a stolen valour act, this can be a prime instance.

“Yeates clearly has a properly documented historical past for dishonesty, going by his previous endeavours, and the plain proof path.

“However to impersonate a serving Main within the Intelligence Corps, common or reserve.

“Sporting the uniform, rank, and medals, which Yeates has not earned, and taking in real veterans, and people nonetheless serving, when he had by no means even stepped foot in a coaching institution or served at some point within the armed forces is a step too far.

“His deliberate actions are disrespectful to the service neighborhood and to those that paid the final word sacrifice within the service to the crown.”

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Yeates, of Dorking, Surrey, escaped jail in 2006 after he took greater than £20,000 from prospects’ financial institution accounts after his enterprise collapsed.

He blew £22,650 inside three days and later admitted utilizing prison property and transferring prison property at Guildford Crown Courtroom.

A earlier indictment of 30 counts regarding theft was left on file.

He was later jailed for 12 months in Could 2015 for fraud after spending £7,700 on a bank card that didn’t belong to him.

He purchased top quality flights to Los Angeles to shoot a video which he hoped would encourage expertise to affix his YouTube community Jey Administration.

Final evening, Yeates advised The Solar: “Some feedback I’ve made previously might have been misunderstood or taken out of context.

“My focus has all the time been on working professionally and in good religion. “

He added: “At no level have I deliberately misled anybody, nor have I tried to profit professionally from any misrepresentation.”