Italian police have identified the man who was seen last week writing names on a wall at Rome's historic Colosseum as a visitor from the UK.
They did not give the names of the man or the woman they claimed to have been able to identify from photos.
The couple, according to a number of UK media outlets, resides in Bristol. They may have traveled outside of Italy.
If charged and found guilty, the man could face a hefty fine or a five-year prison sentence.
Another tourist who was in the city of Rome at the time recorded the incident and verbally reprimanded the man before giving the recording to security personnel.
The man can be seen in the video writing "Ivan + Hayley 23" on a Colosseum wall, which is thought to be the names of the couple.
There was widespread condemnation of the incident in Italy and around the world.
"This act was offensive to everyone around the world who appreciates the value of archaeology, monuments, and history," said Gennaro Sangiuliano, the minister of culture in Italy. ".
One of the most well-known images of Imperial Rome is the Colosseum, which is also Italy's most visited tourist destination. It dates back nearly 2,000 years.
It has been designated a protected Unesco World Heritage Site, making it a location of "outstanding universal value."
