Accused Sycamore Gap Tree Feller Claims Framing Amid Criminal Charges

Daniel Graham, one of the men accused of cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree beside Hadrian’s Wall, told police he was being 'framed' or 'stitched up' for the crime, claiming he lacked the skills to fell such a large tree and that his involvement was fabricated by others due to personal disputes. Prosecutors allege that Graham and co-accused Adam Carruthers traveled together to the site during Storm Agnes, where one used a chainsaw to cut down the tree while the other filmed the act, and that they took a wedge of the trunk as a trophy. Evidence presented in court includes videos and photos found on Graham's phone showing a piece of wood and a chainsaw in his Range Rover shortly after the incident. Graham maintains his innocence, stating he had no recollection of his whereabouts on the night in question, and that social media accusations have damaged his business and personal life. Both defendants deny charges of criminal damage to the tree and to Hadrian’s Wall, which was also harmed when the tree fell. The trial continues as the prosecution and defense present conflicting narratives regarding the planning and execution of the felling.