• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content

Home> News

Updated 11:10 1 Jul 2023 GMT+1Published 10:59 1 Jul 2023 GMT+1

Brit who 'carved girlfriend's name' into Rome's Colosseum now facing up to five years in jail

Carving a name into the Colosseum has turned out to be a very unwise decision

Joe Harker

Joe Harker

There may be more trouble ahead for the tourist from the UK who carved his girlfriend's name into the Colosseum in Rome.

Footage of a man went viral after he appeared to carve 'Ivan + Hayley 23' in one of the bricks of the legendary Roman amphitheatre.

The Colosseum is a Unesco World Heritage Site so carving one's name into it is probably not the sort of thing which one ought to be doing - and the tourist could face further punishment.

Advert

According to Italian police, the tourist who carved names into the brick was a fitness instructor of Bulgarian origin who lives in the UK.

Carving this into the Colosseum could land you up to five years in jail.
YouTube/@rytz5873

They've said they have the man's details as they were able to track down where in Rome the couple were staying, though officers now believe the pair to have left Italy.

Police have said it is the man who appeared to carve a name into the Colosseum who would be in trouble and that his girlfriend 'is not part of the investigation'.

They've also stated that there is going to be a trial for this, and if things go badly for the man, he could face some serious punishments.

Advert

According to the Daily Mail, police have been in contact with the man, who has 'expressed his apologies and sincere remorse'.

Italian police said: "He had contacted us after we secured his mobile telephone from hotel records and left a message for him to call us.

"He was naturally worried about the legal implications, and these were all explained to him."

When they were in touch with him, they told him he could face a fine of up to €15,000 (£12,850) and could even end up in jail for between two to five years.

Carving things into the Colosseum is not a good idea, Sonny Jim...
YouTube/@rytz5873

Advert

Italian Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, said: "This act was offensive to everyone around the world who appreciates the value of archaeology, monuments and history."

"I am grateful to the Carabinieri for having swiftly identified the person who is alleged to be responsible for this act, uncivilised as it was absurd, which was committed at the Colosseum."

"‌I hope that the justice system will now run its course and rigorously apply the law. Those who cause damage will pay."

The government minister also said Italy would be tightening their laws on people found guilty of damaging historical sites.

This is not the first time a person has got in trouble for carving things into the Colosseum, as in 2014 a tourist who carved their initials into the building was fined €20,000 (£17,000).

Advert

In 2015, two people were arrested and charged with 'aggravated damage on a building of historical and artistic interest' for carving their initials into the protected site and taking a selfie featuring it.

Throughout history, the Colosseum has suffered quite a lot as over the centuries, including people stealing the iron clamps (which held much of the stonework together) and quite a bit of the marble stone over the years as well.

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/@rytz5873

Topics: UK News, World News, Travel, Viral, Crime

Joe Harker
Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

X

@MrJoeHarker

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • 3 hours ago

    Donald Trump speaks out after Iran attacks on US airbases

    The US president posted on Truth Social

    News

    breaking

  • 3 hours ago

    NASA's Voyager 1 has just found a 50,000 Celsius 'wall of fire' at the edge of the solar system

    It's the furthest reaches of our solar system, but it helps protect us

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Everything we know about Iranian attack on US airbases in Qatar and Iraq as videos show missiles in the air

    The strikes from Iran follow the three from the US on Saturday (21 June)

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    Inside $2,100,000,000 US stealth bomber made of 'radar absorbing' material making it impossible to detect

    The US used six B-2 Spirit stealth bombers in their strikes on three targets in Iran

    News
  • Brit thrown in Turkish jail after 'biggest mistake of her life' celebrating boyfriend's Turkey teeth
  • Brit thrown in Turkish jail gives update after 'biggest mistake of her life' celebrating boyfriend's Turkey teeth
  • Brit dad eerily booked into seat 11A narrowly escaped disaster on doomed Air India flight
  • Brit backpacker, 24, facing 20 years in prison over e-scooter crash