The two men who have been found guilty of destroying a century old tree alongside Hadrian’s Wall (Daily Mail)
by Mick the Ram
Two men have been found guilty of the “mindless destruction” of a world famous tree which caused outrage and revulsion internationally.
The Sycamore Gap, which was thought to be well over 150 years old, was a tourist attraction for visitors to Hadrian’s Wall, near to the border between England and Scotland.
The tree had grown in a dip on the Wall in Northumberland, but was cut down in a “moronic mission” in the early hours of 28 September 2023.
Daniel Michael Graham, a 39-year-old and Adam Carruthers who is 32 and both from Cumbria, were each convicted of two counts of criminal damage, with the first relating to the tree which was “irreparably damaged” and the second to the Roman feature, which suffered broken stones from the falling timber.
Prosecutors said the pair carried out the “mindless thuggery” as a “bit of a laugh” but, when they realised the public’s fury, they were too cowardly to confess.
Jurors took around five hours to reach their verdicts and the two men were remanded into custody for their “own protection” ahead of sentencing which is set for 15 July, in the knowledge that they could face up to 10 years in prison.
The tree had been planted in the late 19th century and the National Trust – which had been the owners since the 1940’s – welcomed the verdicts, saying the “needless” felling had “shocked” people around the world.
Each blamed the other
Both men denied their involvement, with Mr Graham saying he was being framed as part of a feud and claimed Mr Carruthers had admitted to him that he had felled the tree.
Mr Carruthers for his part said he had “no clue” who was responsible and expressed his surprise at the public outrage that followed, as he thought it was “just a tree”.
Ashamed or just cowardly?
Without realising it, that comment probably emphasised the lack of appreciation both men had towards the “national treasure” and its historical importance.
As prosecutors pointed out, the pair carried out the “mindless thuggery” as a “bit of a laugh” but once the penny dropped and they began to realise the public’s fury towards their actions, they were too cowardly to come forward and make a confession.
The tree was in effect “irreparably damaged” and there was also around £1,144 worth of damage caused to stones on the Unesco World Heritage Hadrian’s Wall.
Feeble excuse left accused nowhere to hide
Mr Graham’s mobile phone and car were tracked going to and from the site and a video which seemingly showed the moment the iconic tree was felled, was recorded on his phone at the exact coordinates of the landmark, jurors were told.
Additionally, cell site analysis tracked the phone travelling from his home in Carlisle to a point about 11 miles west of Sycamore Gap, where it was suddenly switched off or put on “airplane mode”.
Automatic number plate recognition cameras also tracked his Range Rover making the same journey at the same time, while headlights were captured on CCTV heading to and from the nearest public car park to the tree’s location.
His only defence was to claim someone else had taken both the phone and car from his home whilst he was sleeping.
Instead of covering tracks they filmed them
Graham and Carruthers had apparently been best friends before falling out “spectacularly” in the aftermath of the incident.
The court heard how they had used the cover of darkness to travel from their homes to deliberately attack the tree with a chainsaw. One of the men set about cutting down the much-loved tree, whilst the other filmed it on Graham’s phone.
Arrogant, stupid… or both
It took less than three minutes to destroy what had taken well over a century to grow. A wedge of wood was taken from the trunk – presumably as a “trophy” – and photographed when placed in the boot of Mr Graham’s Range Rover, right alongside a chainsaw just a short time later.
Although neither of these have since been found, both men knew how to fell trees and their messages exchanged to each other in the days immediately afterwards, appeared to demonstrate that they were actually “revelling in” the public disgust.
No apology and no explanation
The seven women and five men of the jury who sat through seven days of evidence at Newcastle Crown Court, were unanimous in their decision, which was reached in next to no time.
A spokesperson for the National Trust said the tree was an “emblem” of north-east England and was a “backdrop to many personal memories”.
Supt. Kevin Waring of Northumbria Police said no explanation had ever been offered for the felling, but quickly added: “there never could be a justifiable one”.
Inspirational and a star turn
Over the years the Sycamore Gap is said to have been the inspiration for writers and creatives from all around the globe.
It was a focal point along an 84-mile route, but it was when it featured in the blockbuster movie of 1991, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman and Alan Rickman, that its popularity really intensified.
The things ppl get worked up over 😂. Its a damn tree come on man. Who planted it? You going to put yhese men away for 10 years for a damn tree? Give me a break!