British man faces huge fine after defacing Pompeii house by carving initials into wall

The man was reported to the police by Pompeii security staff before the public prosecutor’s office in Torre Annunziata has launched an investigation.

A police source said the suspect apologised and said he wanted to leave a mark of the family’s visit.

"After his arrest, he was mortified," the local police source told The Telegraph.

"He said he wanted to leave something of himself there.

"He apologised for what he did but he will have to pay."

The area is popular among tourists which was buried in the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD.

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The House of the Vestals was previously a luxury villa famous for its water features in the Roman era.

Italy has faced a rise in vandalism of points of interest over recent years.

The Italian parliament approved stricter fines earlier this year with anyone found guilty of causing damage to a site of historical, cultural or artistic interest set to pay €15,000 to €60,000 (£13,000 to £51,000).

In June, a Kazakhstan tourist carved the letters "ALI" on the plaster of Pompeii’s House of Ceii.

A Dutch tourist was caught drawing graffiti on the walls of an ancient Roman villa in the ruins of Herculaneum near Naples.

In addition, a woman was spotted carving a heart into a column of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Gennaro Sangiuliano, Italy’s minister of culture, previously said: "Unfortunately, even today we find ourselves commenting on an uncivil and idiotic defacement inflicted on our artistic and cultural heritage."