A gym instructor who carved his and his partner's name into the Colosseum wall in Rome and is now hunted by police has spoken out about the situation.
Ivan Dimitrov, 27, claimed he "didn't know it was an old monument" and has written a letter of apology to authorities following the outcry.
But it is a said an official in Rome's council has branded the note as "nonsense".
Ivan was caught red handed as he scratched his name and that of his girlfriend Hayley Bracey, 33, into a wall last week.
The couple, who live in Bristol, were on the first leg of a three-week European holiday while their house is being renovated. Ivan, who is a fitness coach, was spotted by an outraged American tourist, who posted the footage online and it went viral.
But Ivan's letter, seen by MailOnline, reads: "Aware of the seriousness of the committed act, with these lines, I wish to address my most heartfelt and honest apologies to the Italians and to the whole world for the damage caused to an asset which, in fact, is the heritage of all humanity.
"I admit with profound embarrassment that only after what regretfully happened did I learn of the antiquity of the monument.
"The council with dedication, care and sacrifice guards the inestimable historical and artistic value of the Colosseum."
But one official at Rome city council reportedly said: "What nonsense and what a surreal letter. What level of education does this man have not to know the significance of the Colosseum?
"It's just an attempt to pacify - and if he was so concerned why take almost two weeks to write? Why didn't he apologise sooner? He must have known what he did as it was all over the world's media.
"We intend to pursue this through the judicial system along with the authorities at the Colosseum and hope to see an appropriate punishment when it comes to court."
He faces a possible fine of up to €15,000 and could be jailed for between two and five years when the case comes to court, probably next year but he will not be extradited and does not have to attend.
Mail Online reports that Ivan's lawyer Alessandro Maria Tirelli has said: "I suggested he wrote to the authorities to express his sincere regret for what he did and offer his apologies.
"He thought he could get away with what he did in Italy, even knowing full well that if caught in England where he lives he would have been severely punished."
A bystander filmed the tourist as he carved the names into the stone walls of the 1,937-year-old building using a set of keys.
