Tourist Fined £16k For Vandalising Colosseum

A Russian tourist has been fined 20,000 euros (£16,000) for engraving the letter K on a wall of Rome's Colosseum, authorities in Italy have said.

The 42-year-old was also given a suspended four-year jail sentence for the offence.

He used a sharp stone to carve the large letter, which was around 25cm tall, and was caught in the act by a member of staff.

The head of the administration of the Colosseum, Mariarosaria Barbera, was reported to have said the man had "caused significant damage" and had "ruined the covering part of the amphitheatre".

It was the fifth incidence of vandalism by foreign tourists at the ancient arena this year.

An Australian man and his son, aged 45 and 12, scrawled their names on a wall, a Canadian teenager tried to steal a brick and a Brazilian was prosecuted for similar offences.

Italy takes protection of its monuments very seriously and since last year here have been a number of fines for vandalism offences reaching six-figure sums.

Union leaders have complained about the lack of staff to properly monitor Rome's archaeological treasures - with increasing numbers of visitors seeking to leave their mark.