A FIGHTING-FIT Bradford teenager whose dream is to join the Royal Navy has been knocked back at his final medical only because he wears braces on his teeth.

Harley-Joe Steele, 17, had been hoping to start ten-week initial training shortly with the Royal Navy, but fell at the final hurdle due to the fixed metal braces which he has worn for the past year, including at three interviews with Naval staff during the six-month-long recruitment process.

And to his frustration, he was simply advised to apply again after the braces have been removed.

Harley-Joe and his family have been left asking why they were not told of the strict policy earlier on in process.

And last night, the Royal Navy admitted that braces were not mentioned in its own list of medical conditions which could temporarily prevent recruitment.

Harley-Joe said: “I was devastated when they told me I had failed the medical because of the braces as I wasn’t fit for training.

“I first applied about six months ago when I was still at school, and have gone through the process of four different interviews and tests, but no-one said anything about my braces.

“I’ve had them for a year and don’t know how much longer I need to wear them for, but I wouldn’t have left school then if they had told me about this earlier.

“I will have to try to find a job and then apply again when I get the braces off.”

His dad, Simon Akeroyd, also spoke of his frustration: “He’s been through weeks and weeks of interviews and tests, face-to-face interviews and no-one said anything.

“Now he’s been told they won’t take people with ongoing medical problems, and stopped him there.

“There are going to be loads of kids going through this.

“I just can’t understand why there wasn’t anything on the application form, if this is a rule.

“He left school because this was going to be his life and career, and now he’s just sitting around the house with nothing to do until his braces come off.

“Some kids don’t want braces, but he was happy to have them to sort his teeth out.

“This has been such a knock back.”

Harley-Joe, who applied to be a navy weapons engineer, had been studying at Immanuel College, Thackley, before leaving earlier this year.

He lives with his dad Simon, mum Samantha and three brothers.

A Royal Navy spokesman told the Telegraph & Argus: “The briefing material given to potential recruits does mention temporary medical conditions that would bar them from entering the Service, however braces is not specifically listed,” she said."

She added: “The Service does provide emergency dental and medical cover, but there is no time in an already packed schedule for new recruits to be released to attend orthodontic appointments at home.

“Once the braces are removed, there is no reason that the individual cannot re-apply (unless it is within 12 months, then they do not have to re-apply), providing, of course, they pass the rest of the medical.

The family’s MP David Ward (Lib Dem, Bradford East) said: “This sends out a poor message on the competence of the Royal Navy.

“Needing your teeth straightening isn’t a medical condition, you’d hardly call a brace a medical aid – it’s a cosmetic aid.

“It’s almost beyond belief that no-one at any point has pointed it out to him right until the very end.

“I will see what I can do to help, if necessary I will contact the Royal Navy on his behalf.”