Two men have been found guilty of cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree — one of the UK’s most iconic natural landmarks — in an incident that drew widespread public outrage.
Adam Carruthers, 32, and Daniel Graham, 39, both from Cumbria, were convicted at Newcastle Crown Court of two counts of criminal damage relating to the felling of the 300-year-old sycamore in September 2023.
The pair, who used a chainsaw to bring down the tree, face a maximum sentence of up to ten years in prison. Sentencing is expected in the coming weeks.
The tree, located beside Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, became globally recognised after appearing in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and was often referred to as the ‘Robin Hood tree’.
During the trial, the prosecution described the incident as “a deliberate and mindless act of destruction.” The court also heard that neither man expressed remorse for their actions.
Public reaction to the loss of the tree was significant, with tributes pouring in from conservation groups, heritage organisations, and members of the public across the UK and beyond.
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HeadlineTwo men convicted with cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree
Short HeadlineSycamore Gap tree pair convicted
StandfirstProsecutors describe the actions of the pair as 'a deliberate and mindless act of destruction'
‘It was just a tree’
Two men have been found guilty of cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree — one of the UK’s most iconic natural landmarks — in an incident that drew widespread public outrage.
Adam Carruthers, 32, and Daniel Graham, 39, both from Cumbria, were convicted at Newcastle Crown Court of two counts of criminal damage relating to the felling of the 300-year-old sycamore in September 2023.
The pair, who used a chainsaw to bring down the tree, face a maximum sentence of up to ten years in prison. Sentencing is expected in the coming weeks.
The tree, located beside Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, became globally recognised after appearing in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and was often referred to as the ‘Robin Hood tree’.
During the trial, the prosecution described the incident as “a deliberate and mindless act of destruction.” The court also heard that neither man expressed remorse for their actions.
Public reaction to the loss of the tree was significant, with tributes pouring in from conservation groups, heritage organisations, and members of the public across the UK and beyond.
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