Sycamore Gap pair convicted over tree felling, quizzed over homophobic attacks

Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, recently convicted of felling the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, were also suspects in a series of alleged homophobic assaults in Cumbria just days before the tree vandalism. One victim reported being verbally abused and doused in icing sugar at a layby commonly frequented by gay men, and provided police with a vehicle description and partial registration. Police later found videos on a suspect's phone showing multiple incidents of homophobic abuse, but the Crown Prosecution Service declined to bring charges due to insufficient evidence, challenges in identifying the suspects, and time elapsed since the incidents. The victim criticized police for not acting on his initial evidence, including failing to check CCTV. Despite not being charged for the alleged homophobic attacks, Graham and Carruthers are facing jail time for the criminal damage caused to the Sycamore Gap tree, with sentencing set for July 15. The case has raised concerns about the handling of hate crime investigations and the effectiveness of evidence gathering.