The vacationers have been caught carving names into the well-known partitions final weekend (Image: Reuters/AP)
A vacationer who allegedly vandalised Rome’s Colosseum by carving his and his girlfriend’s names into it has been named.
Ivan Dimitrov, who goes by the identify of Ivan Hawkins, is a health teacher who lives in Bristol.
The 27-year-old was mentioned to have been caught by American holidaymaker Ryan Lutz carving the phrases ‘Ivan and Hayley 23’ into the brickwork with a set of keys final weekend.
Within the video Ryan will be heard saying ‘Are you critical man? That’s f***** up man. Silly a******.’
When challenged, the person mentioned to be Ivan turns round to Ryan and grins earlier than turning his consideration again to the wall.
MailOnline has established Ivan is initially from Lovech, Bulgaria, and likewise works as a supply driver round Bristol.
His girlfriend, Hayley Bracey, 33, is assumed to run her personal sports activities vitamin enterprise and the pair reside collectively in Keynsham, close to Bristol.
In a press release launched this afternoon a spokesperson for the Carabinieri mentioned: ‘Following investigations, subsequent to the criticism introduced by the Colosseum Park Authority, the Carabinieri of the Command of Rome Piazza Venezia, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor of Rome, have recognized, by way of conventional investigations and photographic comparability, the particular person severely suspected of being answerable for engraving his personal identify and that of his companion, on the Colosseum, filming the scene, then printed on social media.
Ivan Dimitrov wrote his identify alongside girlfriend’s, Hayley Bracey (Image: Fb/@Ivan Health & Teaching)
Ivan was seen grinning when he was caught within the act (Image: YouTube/@rytz5873)
‘The Carabinieri have ascertained that it’s a couple, man and lady, residing in England.
‘It needs to be famous that the continuing is within the preliminary investigation part, due to this fact the suspect should think about himself harmless till a closing sentence is issued.’
In the meantime in a press release tradition minister Gennaro Sangiuliano mentioned: ‘I’m grateful to the Arma dei Carabinieri for having promptly recognized the alleged perpetrator of the uncivilized and absurd act dedicated on the Colosseum.
‘An act that has offended all these all through the world who recognize the worth of archaeology, monuments and historical past.
‘Now I hope that justice will take its course by rigorously making use of the legal guidelines. If it involves a trial, the Ministry of Tradition will seem as a civil occasion’.
Ryan beforehand mentioned: ‘I couldn’t consider it once I noticed what this jerk was doing to the brickwork.
‘I’m fascinated by historical past and tradition and right here was this dumba** defacing it which is against the law and I needed to do one thing about it.
‘That’s why I took the video and I confirmed it to the safety guard on the web site and I pointed the couple out to them.
‘He mentioned there was nothing he may do as he hadn’t truly seen them defacing the wall however he mentioned I ought to converse together with his boss. So I did and he advised me the police had been known as.
‘That was the final I heard after which I left the Colosseum and carried on with my day. I posted the video within the hope that somebody would recognise and determine them after which they are going to be punished.
‘I feel each of them, whoever they’re, are idiots and I’ve a horrible intestine feeling these two jerks are American as a result of it’s the kind of factor now we have a fame for doing.
The Colosseum is among the hottest vacationer locations on this planet (Image: AP)
‘However I respect tradition and historical past and I’m grateful to be a customer to a spot like Rome and be hosted by such great folks after which two idiots do one thing like this.
‘They clearly don’t have any disgrace and when he checked out me in that weird manner and he simply smiled you possibly can hear what I considered him.
‘I don’t perceive what would possess somebody to do one thing like that and I actually hope they’re caught and punished.’
Builders who work on the couple’s dwelling mentioned: ‘They left final week and aren’t due again for a fortnight. We’re simply doing the groundwork. They mentioned they have been touring Europe.’
Hayley’s mum expressed her shock and mentioned: ‘No, that may’t be proper. She wouldn’t do something like that. She’s on vacation in Italy. Ivan is her companion, and they’re each away.’
Hayley’s dad refused to touch upon the matter and mentioned: ‘I’ve bought nothing to say.’
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