by Stuart Woledge

It is a sight that would send the likes of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and the great Winston Churchill himself spinning in their graves.

When staff at Maidstone Crown Court proudly hoisted the Union Flag last week they ran it upside down.

As any boy scout or girl guide worthy of the name would be able to tell them, flying the flag this way is a sign of distress and harks back to the UK’s colonial past.

There could only be one of two explanations for the about face: either someone at the court had temporarily mislaid their patriotism, or it was going to be a bad day for those going in front of the judges.

Maidstone resident Sandra Telfer, of Oxford Road, called the KM to report the oversight on Wednesday, March 27.

Even though the 47-year-old was due to face £14,000 theft charges, it wasn’t enough to distract her from the faux pas.

Having been dropped off at the Barker Road court by her former soldier husband, David, Mrs Telfer said:

“If my husband didn’t have his slippers on he would be up there telling them.

“People who put flags up flag poles should know what way round they go.”

Retired airman David Curd, of Wyvern Close in Snodland, was not surprised at the mistake.

Now a member of ex-servicemen’s group The Memorable Order of Tin Hats, the 82-year-old said: “A lot of people don’t realise there’s a right and wrong way.

“There are some people who are very strict disciplinarians who would frown on it greatly.”

A court spokeswoman said it only flew the flag when a high court judge was in residence or the Queen was visiting.

“The flag has been taken down now anyway, but when it next goes up we will make sure it’s the right way round,” she added.

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The Union Flag originally combined the English cross of St George with the Scottish cross of St Andrew in 1606.

The current flag dates from 1801 when the Irish cross of St Patrick was incorporated after the Act of Union which merged the kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain.

Do you know your flag etiquette? Here's the right from wrong of the Union Flag

The Welsh dragon does not feature because when the flag was first created Wales was already united with England.

The flag is not symmetrical and can therefore be flown the wrong way round.

This can be a sign someone is in distress, or denote an outright insult.

It is uncertain where the term Union Jack comes from.

According to The British Monarchy website, one theory is it originated from the “jack-et” of the English or Scottish soldiers, or from the name of James I, who instigated the first union in 1603.

Another theory has it that the name derived from a proclamation by Charles II that the Union Flag should be flown only by ships of the Royal Navy as a jack, a small flag at the bowsprit.