TAS: Navy imposter convicted and fined

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TAS: Navy imposter convicted and fined

By Libby Sutherland

HOBART, Aug 21 AAP - A Tasmanian man who masqueraded as a decorated war veteran inlast year's Anzac Day parade was today convicted and fined over the scam.

The Hobart Magistrates Court was told Peter Stuart Nelson, 49, passed himself off asa retired Lieutenant Commander of the Royal Australian Navy from July 2001 to September2002 and wore seven medals that had not been awarded to him.

These included the Infantry Combat and Australian Vietnam medals and the US BronzeStar, Silver Star and Purple Heart.

Nelson, who now lives in South Australia, was not in court today but pleaded guiltyto commonwealth charges of unlawfully wearing a service decoration not conferred to himand false representation in relation to military forces, through his lawyer Kim Baumeler.

A third charge of false representation as a returned sailor was dropped.

The court heard Nelson rode at the front of last year's Anzac Day parade in a jeepand later visited the local naval club, where he was confronted by RSL state presidentIan Kennett.

Commonwealth prosecutor John Barnett said Nelson - who spent a brief period in thenavy and was discharged at the rank of ordinary seaman - sought to gain fellowship, attention,kudos and trust from the public for military service.

"(When interviewed by police) he made no admission, but denied the true situation asto his enlistment and rank and his service," Mr Barnett said.

Ms Baumeler argued her client, who had multiple sclerosis, was suffering delusionsas a side-effect of his medication.

"These charges fall into the category of the defendant deluding himself that he ...

had in fact received the medals and they were awarded to him," she said.

"It's really quite a sad matter ... that he's in such a state."

She said the delusions even resulted in Nelson "sitting around the naval club tellingwar stories".

But Magistrate Shan Tennent labelled Nelson's defence "unlikely".

"He was challenged by a person relatively senior in the RSL and then attempted to coverhis medals and avoid that person," she said.

The magistrate convicted Nelson and fined him a total of $170 - $30 shy of the maximum penalty.

Mr Kennett later said he was happy justice had been served, but believed the penaltyshould have been higher.

"It's a slap in the face to all returned servicemen and those who made the supremesacrifice," he said.

"You have got these wannabes who walk around the streets of Australia, pretending tobe returned veterans.

"He (Nelson) is just one of those people that never made the grade and, consequently,has been found to be a fraud."

AAP las/sjb/br

KEYWORD: NELSON NIGHTLEAD