Chris Webster wore the uniforms at events he attended to collect donations for Shoeboxes For Our Heroes (SFOH) – but one belonged to an ex-serviceman friend, and another was bought from eBay
A ‘Walter Mitty’ fantasist who ran an organisation that sent thousands of parcels to British servicemen in war zones has been fined £500 for unlawfully wearing military uniforms.
Chris Webster wore the gear at events he attended while collecting donations for Shoeboxes For Our Heroes (SFOH) – but neither was actually his.
One belonged to an ex-serviceman friend and another was bought online from eBay.
Webster has never served in the forces and failed his basic training in 1993.
Derby Magistrates’ Court was told that the 43-year-old had worn military dress at events between January 1 and August 4 this year when raising money for SFOH, which Webster had established to send boxes filled with luxuries to troops abroad.
Sam Matkin, prosecuting, said that Webster had been told that he was committing an offence but ‘wore the uniform to show respect’.
Makhan Shoker, defending, said: ‘He was not wearing a full uniform, he wasn’t wearing any medals. He wore it simply to indicate that he was involved. He did not have an ulterior motive and the moment he realised he was not entitled to wear it, he stopped.’
Webster, of Chaddesden, Derby, admitted wearing military uniform without the permission of the Queen – an offence which carries a fine of up to £1,000 under the 1894 Uniforms Act.
District Judge Jonathan Taaffe gave Webster a £500 fine and told him: ‘I have a very uneasy feeling about your activities and about the way this organisation has been set up.
Sam Matkin, prosecuting, said that Webster, who has never served in the forces and failed his basic training in 1993, had been told that he was committing an offence but ‘wore the uniform to show respect’. But Makhan Shoker, defending, said: ‘He was not wearing a full uniform, he wasn’t wearing any medals. He wore it simply to indicate that he was involved. He did not have an ulterior motive and the moment he realised he was not entitled to wear it, he stopped’
‘The wearing of the military regalia is, in my view, designed for one purpose and one purpose only and that is to make people think that there is a connection to yourself and the organisation to give it a legitimate face.’
As well as the fine, Webster was also ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £50 victim surcharge.
Speaking after the hearing, Webster said: ‘If I’ve upset a lot of people then I do regret that, but the thing I don’t regret is supporting the armed forces.’
He added Shoeboxes for Heroes was ‘dead’ and ‘finished’.
Jim Wilde, from Sandbag Times, an internet radio station for veterans and their families, was at the hearing, along with relatives of servicemen and women.
He said: ‘Five hundred pounds and the odds and sods on the end of it won’t bother him – he’ll walk out smiling.
‘We don’t know how many Walter Mittys are about, but some of them can impress themselves on vulnerable people, and that worries me.’
Earlier this month married dad-of-two Webster was accused of using his role as chief executive of SFOH, which he set up in 2011, to secretly pester women for sex.
He was forced to apologise, claiming his actions were driven ‘by a compulsive sexual addiction’.
Jim Wilde, from Sandbag Times, an internet radio station for veterans and their families, was at the hearing, along with relatives of servicemen and women. He said: ‘Five hundred pounds and the odds and sods on the end of it won’t bother him – he’ll walk out smiling.’ Pictured: Webster raising cash outside a supermarket
In a statement, Webster said he was ‘deeply sorry’ for his conduct.
He added: ‘I am ashamed to admit that I did engage in sexual chat, send unsolicited, inappropriate and explicit pictures and videos of myself to a number of ladies, all of whom were above the age of consent.
‘I fully accept that my historic conduct in relation to me sending unsolicited sexual messages, ‘sexting’ and sending explicit pictures of myself to some 14 females over a period of time (often when they were at low points emotionally and emotionally vulnerable).
‘I am truly sorry for the hurt, harm, pain and shame I caused each of these ladies and my own wife who has been impacted by this old conduct.
‘My conduct was driven by a compulsive sexual addiction, which I am now receiving treatment for by means of therapy and attending a 12-step group.’
A spokesman for The Charity Commission said concerns had been raised regarding SFOH, which he said wasn’t a registered charity with the commission.
He added: ‘We are currently assessing these concerns to determine what, if any, regulatory action is required.’