NAPIER: He bought medals off Trade Me, pinned them to his chest and made up elaborate tales about life as an SAS soldier.

New Zealand man Yordan Militch captivated crowds with stories of picking off the enemy as a sniper, and saving his mates from dangerous situations.

One boast too many ... Hawke's Bay builder Yordan Militch was found guilty of breaching the Military Decorations and Distinctive Badges Act after purchasing medals online and passing them off as his own.

But his tall tales came to police attention after he spoke at an educational course last year.

He admitted yesterday that he just got carried away.