Off The Record
Men Found Guilty Of Felling Beloved Sycamore Gap Tree Face Lengthy Prison Sentences
After destroying the famous Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland, England, in September 2023, two individuals were found guilty of criminal damage. The case is evident to many thanks to camera footage, voice notes between the two, and incriminating evidence.
Typically, you would rely on live streamers to not only do dumb things but also record themselves doing them. As a result, some of the most well-known producers have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms in other nations after wreaking havoc while live streaming.
However, neither Adam Carruthers, 32, nor Daniel Michael Graham, 39, appeared to be seeking social media fame when they performed what many people view as a “heinous” deed in the wee hours of the morning while setting up their phones to record the entire incident.
The Sycamore Gap tree, which was planted more than 150 years ago at the location of Hadrian’s Wall, has grown to be a beloved and recognisable symbol for many people in the north of England.
Its magnificent setting makes it one of the most photographed trees in the entire nation, and it frequently serves as the backdrop for many special occasions like weddings and engagements.
On September 28, 2023, however, a police officer learnt that the tree had been unlawfully lowered that morning in a “mindless” act of violence, leaving the entire neighbourhood stunned.
Police quickly arrested the aforementioned Graham and Carruthers after learning that the former had recorded a video of the tree being chopped down with a chainsaw on his phone and that the two had also spoken over voicemails about the “virality” of their act, particularly their delight at the public’s negative reaction to it.
Police also found a wedge that experts say has a “very strong chance” of being from the Sycamore Gap tree. It is believed to be a trophy that the two collected from the crime scene to remember their deed.
According to the BBC, the jury’s five-hour deliberation resulted in a guilty judgement, and Graham and Carruthers were charged with two counts of criminal damage. Their sentencing is set for July 15, 2025, in a few months.
According to iNews, the judge overseeing the pair’s case, Mrs. Justice Lambert, has declared that they should be ready for “lengthy” jail sentences, which might last up to ten years.
Reacting to the verdict, one commenter on Reddit argues that they “could not have been more guilty if they’d shown up in court wearing ‘we did it!’ t-shirts,” likely due to the copious amounts of evidence the pair collected of them doing the act, although they still pleaded not guilty.
Others are left astounded at the lack of motivation behind the tree being felled, with one writing, “So there wasn’t even a reason behind it? I remember at the time there was theories about land disputed with the National Trust etc. but they were literally just d***heads who though it would be fully!”
Another responds that they “kind of expect that sort of thing from teenagers who do dumb stuff without thinking it though all the time, but this is two fully grown men who presumably had to plan everything, shift equipment, etc.”
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