The captain of the UK's most famous aircraft carrier has been sacked for using his official car at weekends.
Commodore Nick Cooke-Priest had been the captain of the £3 billion HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, also known as 'Big Lizzie', since October.
The Royal Navy confirmed the 50-year-old has now been fired, after driving the ship's Ford Galaxy 'as if it was his own'.
He had taken over command of the ship in October and prior to that he had been working with the Ministry of Defence in the Corporate Strategy Group, before joining the Standing Joint Force Headquarters as the assistant chief of staff of operations, during which the HQ achieved Full Operational Capability.
Insiders claimed the married father-of-three was never warned that the car was for official duties only, and he is said to be 'gutted' after discovering he had breached the rules by making personal journeys in the Galaxy.
Now the Navy has been criticised for overreacting, with one source telling
The Sun that he should merely have been given a 'slap on the wrist'.
Another former officer said: 'Nick adores the Navy and has lost his career by doing what captains have done for decades — using the company car to get home.
'An innocent mistake has cost the Navy one of its best.'
Cooke-Priest, who received an OBE in 2016, was dismissed this week after a Top Brass investigation found him guilty of an 'error of judgement'.
He was then relieved of his duties commanding the carrier, which is currently docked in Scotland, has a crew of 700 and is capable of carrying up to 60 aircraft including the new Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. There is no allegation of fraud and the officer, who joined the Royal Navy in 1990, paid for his own petrol.
However, it remains unclear what personal trips the Ford Galaxy was used for.
Cooke-Priest currently sits as the Chairman of the UK Armed Forces Equestrian Association and is a Liveryman of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots. It is not yet known whether or not these roles will be changed following his dismissal.
The respected officer had commanded a 700-strong crew, but an insider said his position had become 'untenable' as he could not properly discipline his sailors after breaking the rules himself.
After being appointed in October last year, he said: 'It’s an immense honour to have taken command of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and week one has been fabulous! Much brilliant trials work done, many new challenges ahead. Thrilled to be leading the QE team as we re-generate our sovereign Carrier Strike capability.'
He last tweeted on April 6, and praised his crew for their effort and work, he said: 'To team Portsmouth for their tremendous work over the past 3 months, Forth Pilots for their utter professionalism bringing us into Dry Dock today, and my outstanding Ship’s Company for their enduring commitment, thank you.
'Another milestone on the road to Carrier Strike.'
It is understood that proceedings are ongoing to determine whether he will receive any formal punishment.
A minor punishment is likely but taking into account Captain Cooke-Priest’s age and senior rank, it could mark the end of his high-flying navy career.
The Queen Elizabeth crew — docked at Rosyth in Scotland – were told yesterday that their captain was being moved on.
Captain Steven Moorhouse, who was commander of sister ship HMS Prince of Wales, will take charge of the warship.
In the meantime Cooke-Priest has been assigned a 'new role' in the Navy - though it was not clear what this involves - and he will be replaced as the captain of HMS Queen Elizabeth by the Prince of Wales' skipper Steve Moorhouse.
A Navy source told The Sun: 'We're sacrificing one of our best operational Commanding Officers to ensure we're beyond whiter than white.
'Queen Elizabeth's sailors have lost an exceptional and popular captain because of a policy which looks like it's politically driven.
'A few years ago, all he would have got is a slap on the wrist.'
The Royal Navy said: 'We can confirm Captain Nick Cooke-Priest has been reassigned to a new role. We can only say management action is ongoing and it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further.'
Commodore Cooke-Priest had specialised as a Lynx helicopter observer after joining the Royal Navy. A decade of flying appointments followed, primarily at sea, and included an instructional tour and as Flight Commander of HMS Exeter.
In 2003 he joined HMS Marlborough as an Operation Officer after completing the Principle Warfare Officer Course, where he specialised in Anti-Submarine Warfare.
He spent two years on the staff of Flag Officer Sea Training, this was prior to an assignment to HMS Gloucester as the Executive Officer, which included deployment to the South Atlantic during the austral winter.
He was promoted to Commander in 2009 and that year in HMS Kent escorted the Queen during a royal tour.
He commanded the Frigates Kent and Iron Duke, and escorted Her Majesty the Queen during her Western Isles tour. He also conducted the final security patrols around the Iraqi Oil Platforms and Naval Gunfire Support missions into Libya where he was deployed to the Arabian Gulf and in 2011 to Libya as part of Operation Ellamy.
Assuming command of HMS Bulwark, the Fleet Flag Ship, in January 2015 and leading the UK's contribution to the Gallipoli centenary commemorations in the same year are other highlights of his successful career.