Two former friends have been locked up for nearly five years each after cutting down one of Britain’s most iconic trees in a crime described by a judge as driven by “bravado” and “thrill-seeking”.
Adam Carruthers, 32, and Daniel Graham, 39, were convicted at Newcastle Crown Court of causing criminal damage to the Sycamore Gap tree—an internationally recognised landmark that had stood beside Hadrian’s Wall for over a century. The men were also found guilty of damaging the historic wall itself, as the tree crashed onto it during the felling.
The pair were sentenced to four years and nine months each for what the court called a “moronic mission” that stunned the country.
A landmark lost in minutes
The destruction took place in the early hours of 28 September 2023. The two men, who had travelled from Cumbria, crossed pitch-dark moorland in stormy conditions to reach the site. One of them filmed the act on a phone as the tree—famous for its striking position and appearance in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves—was felled in under three minutes.
The Sycamore Gap tree, which had stood for generations, was left in ruins. A section of the trunk has since been preserved for public display, but much of what was lost is irreplaceable.
Blame, denial and unanswered questions
Throughout the trial, both men tried to shift the blame. Carruthers claimed he had no memory of the incident, blaming it on alcohol and calling it a moment of “drunken stupidity”. Graham branded his co-defendant a fantasist and claimed he didn’t believe Carruthers would go through with it.
But the judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, said she believed both were driven by a desire for attention, and dismissed their excuses. “You, Adam Carruthers, were the one who felled the tree, and you, Daniel Graham, encouraged and assisted him—driving him there, filming the act and sharing the footage,” she said.
Revelled in media attention
After the incident, messages between the pair showed they were aware of the media storm they’d sparked. One message described the story as going “wild” and “viral”. A wedge taken from the tree as a souvenir has never been recovered.
The fallout has continued for both men. Graham’s home and business were reportedly targeted, with windows smashed and hate mail sent. Carruthers, who has children aged six and two, has been held on remand since May and described his time in prison as “torture”.
A loss felt far beyond Northumberland
The National Trust, which had cared for the tree on behalf of the nation, described the felling as an act that left “an overwhelming sense of loss and confusion”.
Trust manager Andrew Poad said: “This iconic tree can never be replaced. It belonged to the people. It was totemic.”
Despite the court case bringing some closure, the question that haunted the public—why anyone would commit such a senseless act—remains unanswered.
