diff --git a/dspace-swordv2/src/main/java/org/dspace/sword2/ContainerManagerDSpace.java b/dspace-swordv2/src/main/java/org/dspace/sword2/ContainerManagerDSpace.java
index 454afd80dc..81b48d22c0 100644
--- a/dspace-swordv2/src/main/java/org/dspace/sword2/ContainerManagerDSpace.java
+++ b/dspace-swordv2/src/main/java/org/dspace/sword2/ContainerManagerDSpace.java
@@ -760,9 +760,6 @@ public class ContainerManagerDSpace extends DSpaceSwordAPI
                 WorkflowItem wfi = wft.getWorkflowItem(context, item);
                 workflowItemService.deleteWrapper(context, wfi);
             }
-
-            // then delete the item
-            itemService.delete(context, item);
         } catch (SQLException | IOException e) {
             throw new DSpaceSwordException(e);
         } catch (AuthorizeException e) {