Daniel Graham, 39, of Milbeck Stables, Carlisle, and Adam Carruthers, 33, of Church Street, Wigton, were both found guilty at Newcastle Crown Court of criminal damage to the much-loved tree and to a section of the 1,900-year-old Hadrian’s Wall.
00:00The leader of Northumberland County Council has branded the felon of the iconic Sycamore Gap Tree a revolting and unbelievable crime, following the conviction of two men responsible for its destruction.
00:13Daniel Graham, 39, of Milbeck Stables, Carlisle, and Adam Crothers, 33, of Church Street, Wickdon, were both found guilty at Newcastle Crown Court of criminal damage to the much-loved tree into a section of the 1,900-year-old Hadrian's Wall.
00:28The incident, which occurred in September 2023, sparked national outrage and widespread grief both across the North East and far beyond.
00:38The Sycamore Gap Tree, which stood proudly in a dramatic dip along Hadrian's Wall, had become one of the most photographed trees in the UK, and a symbol of natural beauty and heritage.
00:49Its image featured in films, tourism campaigns, and the memories of countless walkers and visitors.
00:54The tree was cut down in the dead of night, and act many thought as senseless vandalism.
01:00Councillor Glenn Sanderson, who leads a Conservative group on Northumberland County Council, and previously chaired the Northumberland National Park, welcomed the court's verdict, and said he hoped the sentencing would reflect the gravity of the crime.
01:13The prosecution presented compelling evidence, including video footage and digital records, linking the defendants to the crime.
01:22The destruction of the tree, valued at over £620,000, and the damage of the historic wall, estimated at over £1,100, have led to widespread public and official condemnation.
01:34The upcoming sentencing will determine the legal consequences for their actions.
01:39The guilty verdict has been met with relief, but also ongoing sorrow from members of the public, environmental groups, and regional leaders.
01:48North East Mayor Kim McGuinness described the felon as an act of idiocy, saying the pair must now face meaningful consequences.
01:55Nothing will replace our iconic Sycamore Gap tree, Ms McGuinness said.
02:01It was a North East landmark, and I know so many people, like me, are still devastated by its loss.
02:06But we must say tough sentences follow this guilty verdict.
02:10On social media, opinions have been divided over the correct sentencing, with some arguing that it was just a tree, and others agreeing that tough sentences are necessary.
02:20But what do you think of this?
02:21I don't know too much about the two defendants in that case, but I can probably already tell you that they're from a working-class background.
02:29They're probably from a deprived area.
02:31They probably don't have high levels of education, and they probably don't have consistent work.
02:35So I think that I really understand, like I really do, and it's not like I'm trying to go against what people are saying, but I just think that it's not effective.
02:43Like, to get that little bite out of them, yeah, 100%, by all means, yeah.
02:46And they have done something awful.
02:48But actually, in the long term, to just make an example out of them, when there's no tree to cut down again, I don't think it's effective.
02:55And I think they're better off contributing to our economy by being in the workforce or being in education.
