AN actor who appeared in The Crown has been accused of stolen valour after posing as an officer in the Army reserves.
James Yeates, 42, even attended an Honourable Artillery Company dinner in full Intelligence Corps mess dress.
Pictures showed him wearing three medals – the Queen’s Diamond, Platinum Jubilee and King’s Coronation medals – at the swanky do.
Other online photos saw him posing in Intelligence Corps fatigues.
But the convicted fraudster was exposed after veterans launched an investigation following a tip-off.
In reality, the actor had never served a day of his life in the army.
Instead, he is understood to have purchased the medals online.
He proudly declared on one online platform, “I am a well-trained, passionate, and adaptable actor, and I also hold a position as a serving officer in the British armed forces reserves.”
When The Sun confronted him he hastily amended the bio to read: “I’m a fully trained, enthusiastic and versatile actor.”
Similarly, on a different website called Backstage, he stated, “In addition to my professional training and work as an actor, I am currently an active officer in the British Armed Forces reserves.”
His email auto-signature also read: “Major James Yeates, Co-Founder, Military and Aviation Advisors.”
However, according to veterans, there is no evidence of his service in the reserves, and his name does not appear in the London Gazette, which documents the commissions of all officers.
Extra Yeates, who posted photographs of himself on the set of the Crown in 2018 and 2019, suggested the picture of him at the mess dinner was from a film set.
But furious guests who also attended in March 2024 said an internal investigation was now underway to find out who invited him and whether he was vetted.
Yeates also claimed his firm, Military and Aviation Advisors, had worked on the film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, but there is no record showing their involvement.
The Walter Mitty Hunters Club, who led the investigation, is now calling for a new law, the Stolen Valour Act, to make it a criminal offence.
A spokesman said: “The sole reason we exist is because of people like Yeates.
“If there were ever a strong reason for a stolen valour act, this is a prime example.
“Yeates clearly has a well documented history for dishonesty, going by his past endeavours, and the undeniable evidence trail.
“But to impersonate a serving Major in the Intelligence Corps, regular or reserve.
“Wearing the uniform, rank, and medals, which Yeates has not earned, and taking in genuine veterans, and those still serving, when he had never even stepped foot in a training establishment or served one day in the armed forces is a step too far.
“His deliberate actions are disrespectful to the service community and to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service to the crown.”
Yeates, of Dorking, Surrey, escaped jail in 2006 after he took more than £20,000 from customers’ bank accounts after his business collapsed.
He blew £22,650 within three days and later admitted using criminal property and transferring criminal property at Guildford Crown Court.
A previous indictment of 30 counts relating to theft was left on file.
He was later jailed for 12 months in May 2015 for fraud after spending £7,700 on a credit card that did not belong to him.
He bought first class flights to Los Angeles to shoot a video which he hoped would encourage talent to join his YouTube network Jey Management.
Last night, Yeates told The Sun: “Some comments I’ve made in the past may have been misunderstood or taken out of context.
“My focus has always been on working professionally and in good faith. “
He added: “At no point have I intentionally misled anyone, nor have I attempted to benefit professionally from any misrepresentation.”
