The tourists were caught carving names into the famous walls last weekend (Picture: Reuters/AP)
A tourist 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 name of Ivan Hawkins, is a fitness instructor who lives in Bristol.
The 27-year-old was said to have been caught by American holidaymaker Ryan Lutz carving the words ‘Ivan and Hayley 23’ into the brickwork with a set of keys last weekend.
In the video Ryan can be heard saying ‘Are you serious man? That is f***** up man. Stupid a******.’
When challenged, the man said to be Ivan turns around to Ryan and grins before turning his attention back to the wall.
MailOnline has established Ivan is originally from Lovech, Bulgaria, and also works as a delivery driver around Bristol.
His girlfriend, Hayley Bracey, 33, is thought to run her own sports nutrition business and the pair live together in Keynsham, near Bristol.
In a statement released this afternoon a spokesperson for the Carabinieri said: ‘Following investigations, subsequent to the complaint presented by the Colosseum Park Authority, the Carabinieri of the Command of Rome Piazza Venezia, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor of Rome, have identified, through traditional investigations and photographic comparison, the person seriously suspected of being responsible for engraving his own name and that of his partner, at the Colosseum, filming the scene, then published on social media.
Ivan Dimitrov wrote his name alongside girlfriend’s, Hayley Bracey (Picture: Facebook/@Ivan Fitness & Coaching)
Ivan was seen grinning when he was caught in the act (Picture: YouTube/@rytz5873)
‘The Carabinieri have ascertained that it is a couple, man and woman, residing in England.
‘It should be noted that the proceeding is in the preliminary investigation phase, therefore the suspect must consider himself innocent until a final sentence is issued.’
Meanwhile in a statement culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said: ‘I am grateful to the Arma dei Carabinieri for having promptly identified the alleged perpetrator of the uncivilized and absurd act committed at the Colosseum.
‘An act that has offended all those throughout the world who appreciate the value of archaeology, monuments and history.
‘Now I hope that justice will take its course by rigorously applying the laws. If it comes to a trial, the Ministry of Culture will appear as a civil party’.
Ryan previously said: ‘I couldn’t believe it when I saw what this jerk was doing to the brickwork.
‘I’m fascinated by history and culture and here was this dumba** defacing it which is a crime and I wanted to do something about it.
‘That’s why I took the video and I showed it to the security guard at the site and I pointed the couple out to them.
‘He said there was nothing he could do as he hadn’t actually seen them defacing the wall but he said I should speak with his boss. So I did and he told me the police had been called.
‘That was the last I heard and then I left the Colosseum and carried on with my day. I posted the video in the hope that someone would recognise and identify them and then they will be punished.
‘I think both of them, whoever they are, are idiots and I have a horrible gut feeling these two jerks are American because it’s the sort of thing we have a reputation for doing.
The Colosseum is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world (Picture: AP)
‘But I respect culture and history and I’m grateful to be a visitor to a place like Rome and be hosted by such wonderful people and then two idiots do something like this.
‘They clearly have no shame and when he looked at me in that bizarre way and he just smiled you can hear what I thought of him.
‘I don’t understand what would possess someone to do something like that and I really hope they are caught and punished.’
Builders who work at the couple’s home said: ‘They left last week and aren’t due back for a fortnight. We are just doing the groundwork. They said they were touring Europe.’
Hayley’s mum expressed her shock and said: ‘No, that can’t be right. She wouldn’t do anything like that. She’s on holiday in Italy. Ivan is her partner, and they are both away.’
Hayley’s dad refused to comment on the matter and said: ‘I’ve got nothing to say.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
The tourist is said to be 27-year-old Ivan Dimitrov who lives in Bristol