Two men who felled the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland have been jailed for four years and three months each. Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court for causing criminal damage to the tree and the adjacent Hadrian's Wall, a Unesco World Heritage site.
The tree was cut down with a chainsaw on a stormy night in September 2023, sparking widespread sadness and anger. The judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, rejected claims of drunkenness and said the motive likely involved 'sheer bravado' and 'some sort of thrill'. The court heard that Carruthers wielded the chainsaw while Graham filmed the act.
Prosecutor Richard Wright KC described the crime as a 'moronic mission' and the 'arboreal equivalent of mindless thuggery'. He emphasised the planning involved, including driving 40 minutes to a car park and carrying equipment for a 20-minute walk. The pair were found guilty in May after a trial that included footage from Graham's phone.
Victim impact statements described the public response as 'unprecedented', with an 'overwhelming sense of loss' felt globally. Andrew Poad, general manager for the National Trust at the site, said the tree 'belonged to the people' and was a 'totemic symbol' that can never be replaced.
Defence lawyers argued that Carruthers acted out of 'drunken stupidity' and that Graham was a 'troubled man' who had attempted suicide while on remand. The judge noted that both men revelled in the media coverage and were equally culpable.
