For more than 20 years Richard Fitzmaurice served his country, confronting our enemies across the world.
But last night the 75-year-old former soldier was behind bars after becoming the oldest person to be jailed for not paying his council tax.
Mr Fitzmaurice withheld his community charge in protest at soaring bills and because he believed his local authority had used taxpayers' cash inappropriately.
Wearing a poppy on his lapel, he was led away to begin his 32-day sentence after insisting he would not settle his outstanding bill of £1,358.50.
One woman who wished he had paid up was his wife Rita, 76. She said: 'He's an idiot. He's rung me from the cells and he's full of himself.
'But he's put me through a lot and at my age I can't be doing with it. He thinks its going to be a laugh. He's silly. I'm certainly not going to visit him. I can't drive. I depend on him. I'm really rather angry with him.'
Her husband, who has high blood pressure, will be held in Norwich Prison alongside street robbers, burglars and other violent thugs.
Unlike many of them who can expect to be released on licence half way through their sentence, he must serve the full term unless the debt is paid because there is no remission for nonpayment of council tax.
Mr Fitzmaurice told magistrates in King's Lynn he had decided to take a stand because pensioners were unable to meet rising council tax costs.
He said the final straw came when he learned that taxpayers had footed the £23,000 legal bill of King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council leader John Dobson, who was investigated and cleared over claims he extended the employment contract of a local authority employee illegally.
'The council tax is unfair,' Mr Fitzmaurice said. 'It is rising faster than the rate of inflation and pensioners cannot keep up.
'I have never been in debt before. I have served my country, but I feel my country has let me down. I have become a second-class citizen. I am quite prepared to go to prison. It's a matter of principle.'
He added: 'It is not right that my money should go to Mr Dobson.'
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