Convicted Vandals Await Sentencing for Sycamore Gap Tree, Hadrian's Wall Damage

Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, are set to be sentenced for criminal damage after cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, a beloved landmark that stood for nearly 150 years along Hadrian's Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tree's felling on September 28, 2023, not only destroyed the much-photographed tree but also caused damage to the ancient Roman wall beneath it, resulting in over £622,000 in damages. The pair traveled over 40 minutes from Cumbria to the site, carrying equipment across pitch-black moorland during a storm, and filmed the act on a mobile phone, which was key evidence in their conviction. Both men, once friends who have since fallen out, denied involvement but were found guilty of two counts of criminal damage each, facing up to 10 years in prison per count. The tree was well-known locally and internationally, featured in the film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" and voted English Tree of the Year in 2016, making its destruction a significant cultural loss. Justice Mrs. Justice Lambert warned the defendants that they could face a lengthy custodial sentence as sentencing proceeds at Newcastle Crown Court.