A UK-based tourist accused of carving his and his girlfriend’s names into a wall of the Colosseum in Rome could face trial and up to five years in prison. Ivan Dimitrov, 27, who is from Bulgaria but lives with his girlfriend in Bristol, is accused of marking “Ivan + Hayley 23” with a key into a wall of the historic building. Footage of the incident was uploaded to YouTube by Californian tourist Ryan Lutz. The video, titled “A*****e tourist carves name in Colosseum in Rome 6-23-23”, has received over 300,000 views. Italian police officer Major Roberto Martina explained that he had since spoken to the man after he was tracked down in Bulgaria during his European holiday. “We explained that he could be jailed for between two and five years and be fined up to 15,000 euro,” Major Martina told the Mail Online. “He [Mr Dimitrov] told us he was very upset by what he had done, and he kept apologising for it. I think he was worried about the consequences of any trial.” A report of the investigation will be sent to Mr Dimitrov’s home address in the UK before any potential trial proceeds, the website reported. “We didn’t ask him why he did it, that will be for the judge to hear, we just told him that he was a suspect and part of the investigation,” Major Martina added. Fitness trainer Mr Dimitrov and his girlfriend were said to be holidaying in Rome on a three-week European tour when the incident took place. The Italian culture minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano, said the act “offended those around the world who appreciate the value of archaeology, monuments and history”, and thanked the police for identifying the alleged suspect. The minister said the government was considering a law that would impose stringent punishment on those found guilty of defacing or damaging the country’s historical and cultural heritage sites. Read More Tourist who carved name into Rome’s Colosseum ‘is British fitness trainer’ Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg could have cage fight in Roman Colosseum Britons warned to ‘avoid’ violence hotspots as riots and looting shake France

Fans are convinced that D’Amelio and Richards are dating after the duo was spotted on a double date alongside Charli and her boyfriend Landon Barker

PARIS French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said that a long-anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensive against occupying Russian forces had

Outside court, Mr Trump says Michael Cohen is "a proven liar". Cohen says the case is about "accountability".

Norway’s $1.5 trillion wealth fund recommended that private equity be added to its investment portfolio, reflecting a broader

A Rwandan doctor went on trial in France on Tuesday on charges of committing genocide and crimes against humanity during Rwanda's 1994 massacres, after a...

Fox News host Jesse Watters has vehemently spoken up against any aid to be provided to civilians of Gaza

The U.S. Open is the noisiest of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments

By Tom Balmforth and Sarah McFarlane LONDON (Reuters) -Russian military forces have been enhancing defensive positions in and around the

Chinese stocks rose from Monday’s open, extending last week’s gains, on increasing signs Beijing is determined to shore

Hurricane Lee is whirling through open waters as forecasters warn it could become the first Category 5 storm of the Atlantic season

By Daphne Psaledakis and Anna Voitenko WASHINGTON/KYIV (Reuters) -U.S. aid chief Samantha Power on Monday announced more than $500 million