Two men have been sentenced to over four years in prison each for cutting down the famous Sycamore Gap tree in the United Kingdom, a crime that caused outrage worldwide.
Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were jailed for four years and three months each by Newcastle Crown Court. The judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, described their action as a “moronic mission” that brought sadness and anger across the world.
The 150-year-old tree was cut down in September 2023 with a chainsaw. Carruthers cut the tree while Graham filmed the act. The tree stood beside Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO world heritage site in Northumberland.
Justice Lambert said their motive remained unclear but rejected Carruthers’ claim that he was drunk. She told them, “You revelled in the coverage, taking pride in what you have done, knowing you were responsible for the crime so many people were talking about.”
The prosecution lawyer, Richard Wright, said the crime showed a “basic lack of decency” and was the “arboreal equivalent of mindless thuggery.” He insisted that the act was planned and not a result of drunkenness. “The court can be sure they were sober and prepared to do what they did,” Wright said.
The court heard that Graham drove his car with the chainsaw in the boot to the site, and both men walked about 20 minutes to reach the tree. Videos and messages from Graham’s phone showed the moment the tree was cut.
Andrew Poad from the National Trust said the public reaction was “unprecedented,” adding, “This iconic tree can never be replaced. It belonged to the people.”
Carruthers’ lawyer, Andrew Gurney, said his client would “bear the burden of what he had done for the rest of his life.” He described the act as “drunken stupidity.”
Graham’s lawyer, Christopher Knox, said his client was a “troubled man” who had even tried to take his own life after the arrest. He said Graham, a business owner, had received hate mail and his house was attacked.
Kim McGuinness, the metro mayor for north-east England, said, “I’m glad to finally see justice being done, but the sentence could never reflect the devastation we all still feel for the loss of our beloved Sycamore Gap tree.”
