A British geologist was imprisoned after stealing artefacts.

A retired British geologist was sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempting to steal artefacts from Iraq.

During a recent geology and archaeology tour of the country, Jim Fitton, 66, of Bath, collected 12 stones and shards of broken pottery.

Mr Fitton has maintained that he had no idea he was violating Iraqi law.

The news left Mr Fitton’s family “absolutely shattered” and “heartbroken.” They pleaded with the government to assist in his release.

“For a man Jim’s age, 15 years in an Iraqi prison is equivalent to death,” the family added.

Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, described the sentence as “devastating for Jim and his family.”

“The Foreign Secretary now has no choice but to intervene at the ministerial level. The Foreign Secretary must communicate with the Iraqi government.”

The Foreign Office has previously stated that it cannot interfere with another country’s judicial process.

On March 20, Mr Fitton and German national Volker Waldmann were apprehended at Baghdad International Airport.

He was found not guilty of the same charges as Mr Fitton.