'Walter Mitty' Crown actor is jailed conman who posed as Army officer

A 'Walter Mitty' actor who claimed to have starred in Netflix's The Crown has been exposed as a convicted conman who posed as an army officer.

James Edward Yeates, 42, claimed to be a reservist Captain in a crack unit within the British Army's intelligence corps, sharing pictures online in full uniform and sporting a chest full of medals.

He even appeared to have taken part in a mess function at the Honourable Artillery Company's base in London alongside other veterans and serving personnel.

Having founded Military and Aviation Advisors (MAA) Ltd in August 2023, Yeates boasted online about being a 'LAMDA-trained actor, armed forces officer, and skilled pilot'.

But LAMDA has told MailOnline they have no record of him being a student. And defence insiders say there are no records of him having ever served in the military.