Former Big Lizzie captain, 50, QUITS Royal Navy over work car scandal

The former Big Lizzie captain who was stripped of his command for breaching rules over using the ship’s Ford Galaxy car for non-work trips has quit the Navy.

Nick Cooke-Priest handed in his notice last week after an inquiry into his misuse of the vehicle ended in him being taken off the £3billion carrier. 

Though the commodore was not Court Martialled in the probe two months ago, the reprimand effectively stopped him taking any more high-profile positions.

Outraged service personnel have responded by saying Naval chiefs were ‘heavy handed’ in their investigation of Cmdre Cooke-Priest, The Sun reports. 

But some insist that the inquiry was necessary due to the strict nature of the rules on using Royal Navy property outside of work.

The commodore will serve a year-long notice period and a friend of Cooke-Priest said his departure is a loss to the Royal Navy. 

HMS Queen Elizabeth (pictured) is one of the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy and capable of carrying up to 60 aircraft

‘Nick has enjoyed an outstandingly diverse career in the Royal Navy but recent events have forced him to take stock,’ they said. It’s time to take this experience into a second career. The Navy’s loss is someone else’s gain.’

A spokesperson for the Royal Navy said that it would not comment on personnel matters.

But they confirmed that any management action being taking concerning Cmdre Cooke-Priest had concluded.

The spokesperson said that any decisions taken after the inquiry ‘are a matter for the individual’.  

Who is Cmdre Nick Cooke-Priest?

Captain Nick Cooke-Priest OBE, who was sacked from his role as Commanding Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, has quit the Navy

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.

He was promoted to Commander in 2009 and that year in HMS Kent escorted the Queen during a royal tour.

On HMS Iron Duke, 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.

He is a married father of three sons and was awarded an OBE in 2016. In his spare time he enjoys skiing, sailing and shooting.