Eridu

He confessed in court that he had picked up the artifacts while taking a tour of the Sumerian site of Eridu in the south, saying he did not know the act was punishable by law.

The father-of-two collected the souvenirs while on an organised tour at Eridu, in Iraq's south east.

The father-of-two collected stones and shards of pottery as souvenirs while on an organised tour at Eridu, in Iraq's south east.

Along with a tour group visiting Iraq earlier this year, Fitton went to the archaeological site of Eridu, part of the remains of Sumerian cities in ancient Mesopotamia.

Mr Fitton, who had regularly toured various countries and sites of historical interest across South America, south-east Asia and the Middle East, collected the items as souvenirs while visiting a site in Eridu, in Iraq's south east.