Latest news with #Yeates
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Actor from Netflix's The Crown is convicted FRAUDSTER who stole £20k, lied about being military hero & wore fake medals
ARMY CON Actor from Netflix's The Crown is convicted FRAUDSTER who stole £20k, lied about being military hero & wore fake medals Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Actor James Yeates, 42, has been accused of 'stolen valour' Credit: Facebook 5 Veterans launched an investigation after a tip off Credit: Facebook 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. Read more News FAMILY'S AGONY Mum who tortured son so badly he lost his legs will be freed from jail EARLY Instead, he had purchased the medals on eBay. In an online profile he boasted: "I'm a fully trained, enthusiastic and versatile actor, l'm also a current 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." On another site, Backstage, he wrote: "Alongside being a professionally trained and working actor, I am also a current serving officer in the British Armed Forces (reserves)." His email auto-signature also read: "Major James Yeates, Co-Founder, Military and Aviation Advisors." But veterans say there is no record of him ever serving in the reserves and no mention of him in the London Gazette which lists every officers' commissions. Brit mum who 'scammed her SON' arrested after victims watched Netflix show 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." 5 James was previously jailed for fraud in May 2015 Credit: Instagram 5 Veterans felt disrespected by James' actions and called for a 'stolen valour act' Credit: Instagram 5 James has run several failed businesses Credit: Instagram 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."
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Actor from Netflix's The Crown is convicted FRAUDSTER who stole £20k, lied about being military hero & wore fake medals
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. 5 Actor James Yeates, 42, has been accused of 'stolen valour' Credit: Facebook 5 Veterans launched an investigation after a tip off Credit: Facebook 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. Read more News Instead, he had purchased the medals on eBay. In an online profile he boasted: "I'm a fully trained, enthusiastic and versatile actor, l'm also a current 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." On another site, Backstage, he wrote: "Alongside being a professionally trained and working actor, I am also a current serving officer in the British Armed Forces (reserves)." Most read in The Sun His email auto-signature also read: "Major James Yeates, Co-Founder, Military and Aviation Advisors." But veterans say there is no record of him ever serving in the reserves and no mention of him in the London Gazette which lists every officers' commissions. Brit mum who 'scammed her SON' arrested after victims watched Netflix show 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 Yeates also claimed his firm, Military and Aviation Advisors, had worked on the film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, but there is 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 5 James was previously jailed for fraud in May 2015 Credit: Instagram 5 Veterans felt disrespected by James' actions and called for a 'stolen valour act' Credit: Instagram 5 James has run several failed businesses Credit: Instagram 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 He was later jailed for 12 months in May 2015 for 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."
Irish Independent
06-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Stewards busy stopping tourists from groping Molly Malone statue during pilot scheme
The one-week pilot scheme, launched by the local authority yesterday, saw DCC station stewards beside the Suffolk Street statue to police tourists. Major public backlash was sparked earlier this year over the tradition of tourists rubbing the bust's breasts for 'good luck', which has been widely condemned as 'misogynistic'. It led to a 'Leave Molly mAlone' campaign by singer-songwriter Tilly Cripwell, which called for greater respect towards the bronze statue. The monument of fishmonger Molly Malone, created by Jeanne Rynhart, was first inaugurated in 1988 for the city's millennium and was initially built on Grafton Street, but was moved to Suffolk Street in 2014. DCC said yesterday that the statue is 'well fixed in place' and safe after an inspection showed that the sculpture was unstable with broken fittings. The inspection took place after the council decided Molly Malone needed a revamp because of ongoing damage to her bosom caused by groping tourists. A report by expert metalworkers explained how two of the pins that held Molly in place had been completely destroyed. However, DCC Arts Officer Ray Yeates told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that extensive tests by city engineers have shown that the statue "isn't going anywhere". He described it as 'completely safe', stating that there are in fact five pins underneath and that DCC is considering putting liquid concrete into the plinth in the future for extra stability. Plans are also in place to repaint the bronze statue due to discolouration on its breasts from continued groping. Mr Yeates conceded that the council may have to accept that tourists will continue to grope the statue. It is believed the tradition was started around 2012 by a tour guide. Tourists continued to grope the statue, located outside St Andrew's Church, despite the presence of DCC stewards as part of the week-long trial. A number of further options to avoid the practice are being explored, Mr Yeates said. These include putting a structure around the statue, or raising it. Another option is to move the statue indoors, he said, however, he added that the pilot week will be used to discuss with tourists and those interacting with the statue what the best options are. The pilot scheme follows a similar one used for the Dublin Portal on North Earl Street, after stewards patrolled the attraction following inappropriate behaviour that sparked international headlines.
RTÉ News
06-05-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Molly Malone statue 'perfectly safe', says Dublin City Council
Dublin City Council has said the Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street is perfectly safe and "well fixed in place". Yesterday, records released by the council showed that an inspection of the statue found that the entire sculpture was unstable with multiple broken fittings. A report by expert metalworkers - Bush Park Ironworks - showed that two of the pins that held Molly in place were completely destroyed. However, DCC Arts Officer Ray Yeaters said this morning that following extensive tests, city engineers have verified that the statue "isn't going anywhere". He said the tests included pushing out the statue and placing weight against it. Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Yeates said: "It was done with a scope. The engineers place it in between the plinth and the ground itself. There are more than two fixings. There's about five, as far as I'm aware, under the cart and under the statue itself. "So it's very stable, [a] small bit of vibration because of the amount of people who've been kind of leaning against the statue, but it's completely safe." Mr Yeates said that in the long term the council might place liquid concrete into the plinth to further stabilise it. The inspection by Bushy Park Ironworks was carried out the council decided Molly Malone needed a revamp because of ongoing damage, due to the statue's cleavage being rubbed by visitors leading to noticeable discolouration of the bronze on her chest. The tradition of rubbing the famous fishmonger's breasts for luck is believed to have begun around 2012 and is thought to have been instigated by an imaginative tour guide. Mr Yeates said the council is attempting to understand why so many visitors want to put their hands on the statue and how to prevent this from happening. He said the council may have to accept that this is behaviour is something that happens with statues around the world, and carry out repairs while leaving the statue where is it. He said there are a number of options to be considered, including putting a protective structure around it or moving it indoors. "The first option would be to leave it there and probably do nothing except carry out repairs. Just accept that this behaviour is something that occurs worldwide, with statues throughout the world. "The second thing would be to perhaps put a structure around it or to raise it. That's expensive, and could increase risk if people felt they had to climb up on the plinth or climb over the railings. "And then the big option would be to move it, perhaps move it indoors. However, I think that we just need probably the week to discuss with people, talk to tourists and everybody else who is interacting with statue and see what the options are."
The Journal
06-05-2025
- General
- The Journal
Behaviours at Molly Malone statue may have to be 'accepted', says Dublin City Council officer
BEHAVIOURS AT THE Molly Malone statue in the capital may have to be 'accepted', a Dublin City Council officer has said as the council considers its options for the future of the statue. The maintenance of the statue has been a topic of conversation in recent years; tourists touching the Molly Malone statue on the area of her breasts has caused discolouration, with many locals also saying the action is disrespectful. Visitors have also been climbing on the plinth that bears the statue and leaning up against it. It was reported yesterday that an inspection found two of the pins holding the statue in place were destroyed 'from the abuse' it was 'receiving on a daily basis'. Dublin City Council received the report from expert metalworkers after it contacted them to look into the possibility of restoration works on the statue. Speaking on RTÉ Radio One's Morning Ireland this morning, Dublin City Council Arts Officer Ray Yeates said the statue is 'totally safe'. 'We respect the report, but we attended immediately when we received it, and city engineers have verified that the statue is not going anywhere. It's well fixed in place,' Yeates said. Advertisement 'There are more than two fixings. There's about five, as far as I'm aware, under the cart and under the statue itself, so it's very stable. Small bit of vibration because of the amount of people who've been leaning against the statue, but it's it's completely safe,' he said. 'In the long-term, it's not an urgent matter, we probably will place liquid concrete into the plinth itself to further stabilise it.' The council has hired stewards on a short-term pilot basis to try to discourage visitors from touching and climbing. 'We have stewards at the statute this week who are having conversations with the public. We want to understand why this behavior is occurring and is it possible to prevent it,' Yeates said. Dublin City Council is weighing up its options for how to manage the statue in the future. 'The first option would be to leave it there and probably do nothing except carry out repairs and just accept that this behavior is something that occurs worldwide with statues throughout the world,' Yeates said. 'The second thing would be to perhaps put a structure around it or to raise it. That's expensive and could increase risk if people felt they had to climb up on the plinth or climb over the railings,' he said. 'And then the big option would be to move it, perhaps move it indoors. However, I think that we need the week to discuss with people, talk to tourists and everybody else who's interacting with statue, and see what the options are. 'We're waiting for the contractor to come in and repaint it before the end of May. That might be something we just have to do regularly and accept the behavior.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
