Sentence of four years for men who cut down iconic 'Sycamore Gap' tree in drunken bravado

Two men were sentenced to more than four years in prison on Tuesday for felling Britain’s iconic 'Sycamore Gap' tree, a world-famous landmark whose striking silhouette was once featured in a Hollywood film.

Sentencing Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, to four years and three months in prison, Judge Christina Lambert told the men they had cut down the tree out of "sheer bravado".

“Mr. Carruthers, your account that you had so much to drink that you had no memory of what you did that night is not plausible. The tree felling demonstrated skill. It required deliberate and coordinated actions by you. As Mr.Graham commented the next day, having seen the photograph of the stump, you didn’t get a bad angle on the stump, and the job seemed professional,” said Judge Lambert.

Estimated to be almost 200-years-old, the sycamore tree stood in the middle of a deep natural hollow in the landscape alongside the historic Hadrian’s Wall in northern England, which made it a popular spot for photographers, hikers, and even marriage proposals.

The pair were found guilty last month of travelling from their homes in the middle of the night in September 2023 to deliberately cut it down using a chainsaw. 

Described by the prosecutors as “moronic mission,” the pair filmed the act on Graham’s mobile phone and later bragged about it, before their friendship turned into hostility as their actions caused widespread anger. 

Both had denied any involvement in the annihilation of the tree that was featured in the 1991 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves'. The duo also damaged part of Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, built by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago. 

Eventually, Graham and Carruthers did accept their responsibility when speaking to the probation officers, their lawyers said. 

Carruthers’s lawyer, Andrew Gurney, described the crime as "drunken stupidity."

The National Trust, a heritage conservation charity responsible for the site, announced last August that new growth was visible at the tree’s base, raising hopes it could survive. 

Meanwhile, last week, the Northumberland National Park said that the largest remaining section of the tree will be displayed in an installation near its original location.

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News UK Nature crime Sycamore Gap Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves"