Jim Fitton: Last News

jailed for 15 years in Iraq for collecting stones and shards of pottery is to be freed. Retired geologist Jim Fitton, 66, who could have been executed over the case, has been held since March ­after taking the items as souvenirs.

RICHARD Madeley came under fire today when he showed the tearful daughter of a man imprisoned in Iraq how much water he would receive. Geologist Jim Fitton, 66, was handed a 15-year sentence in the middle-eastern country after collecting fragments during archaeology tour.

Good Morning Britain fans couldn't believe what they were seeing as host Richard Madeley produced a tiny water bottle to show a terrified family how much water their relative will get in an Iraqi prison.British geologist Jim Fitton, 66, has been arrested in Iraq for collecting 12 stones and bits of broken pottery on a recent geology and archaeology tour of the country - which he insists he was told he was allowed to take.Mr Fitton insisted he had no idea he was breaking the country's laws.And his devastated family, who are desperately appealing for his release, admitted on the programme that they'd learned the news just yesterday from a journalist and were still in shock as Richard began questioning them.But it was as he brought out a tiny water bottle to demonstrate how much water Mr Fitton will receive per day that viewers at home had to suspend their disbelief.With Jim's daughter and son-in-law chatting to the hosts via video link, Richard said: "I don't want to distress you any more, but we know the conditions in Iraqi prisons are awful, by and large."One of the statistics to come out is horrific! This is what the World Health Organisation says an average adult needs to drink in terms of water every day," he said, gesturing to a large bottle he had on the desk."Every 24 hours you need a minimum of two litres."Producing a tiny bottle of water beside it, Richard went on: "And this is routinely all that a prisoner gets in that 24 hour period. They give them 250 millilitre bottles, that's what they're given."He then asked: "Have you any more detailed knowledge of the kind of conditions he's been kept in?"Which is when Mr Fitton's family admitted: "We have no idea where he's even going to end up at the moment.

15 years in prison.Jim Fitton, 66, a retired geologist, took the pieces as souvenirs for his visit during an organised geology and archaeology tour, and Fitton's family say they are "shattered" by the result.The father-of-two could have faced the death penalty under Iraqi law, but was instead sentenced in court to 15 years in prison.Fitton's son-in-law, Sam Tasker, 27, has said the sentencing is the equivalent "to a death sentence," and has criticised the UK Government for their "total lack of action". Speaking of the heartbreaking sentencing, Tasker said: "We are absolutely shattered by this news.

tourist could easily lead to a nightmare holiday behind bars. Boozed-up Brits have faced consequences as serious as the death penalty after wild nights out overseas, while others were merely working to make ends meet when they somehow ended up in jail.

Iraq after being accused of attempting to smuggle historical artefacts out of the country.Father-of-two Jim Fitton, 66, who lives in Malaysia, was held over smuggling allegations during his first visit to the country for a geology and archaeology tour.His family claim he found the pottery fragments out in the open and was told by the tour guide, who's since died, that it would be fine to take.Now his children, Joshua and Leila, and Leila's husband Sam Tasker, have set up a petition to press the UK government to assist with the case.Mr Tasker said in a statement Mr Fitton and a German man on the trip were arrested on March 20, following a security check of the group's baggage at the airport in which 12 shards were said to have been recovered from his luggage.His family say he is accused of taking broken shards of pottery found at the Eridu historical site in southern Iraq.Their tour leader was taken into custody around the same time, after suffering a possible stroke, and has since passed away.A family statement reads: "Whilst on the tour, our father visited historical sites around Iraq, where his tour group found fragments of stones and shards of broken pottery in piles on the ground."These fragments were in the open, unguarded and with no signage warning against removal.