Two men have been sentenced to four years and three months in prison for felling the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in an act of vandalism that drew global condemnation.
Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, used a chainsaw to cut down the beloved tree during a stormy night in September 2023. The sycamore, a landmark in Northumberland for over a century, crashed onto the adjacent Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The attack sparked international outrage and sadness.
Believed to have been planted in the late 19th century, the Sycamore Gap tree was one of the most photographed in the United Kingdom. It was a cherished beauty spot where generations of visitors marked significant life events, from celebrations and marriage proposals to scattering the ashes of loved ones.
The men were found guilty of criminal damage to both the tree and the historic wall in May following an eight-day trial at Newcastle Crown Court. Despite denying the charges, the jury was presented with compelling evidence, including footage of the act recovered from Graham’s phone and messages in which the pair appeared to revel in their notoriety.
During the trial, prosecutor Richard Wright KC described the felling as a “moronic mission” and the “arboreal equivalent of mindless thuggery.” He highlighted the widespread “public indignation, anger and downright disgust” at the act, adding that the men showed a “basic lack of decency and courage to own up to what they did.”
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