Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers have been found guilty of felling the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland — a deliberate act of vandalism that shocked the nation.
The two men were convicted at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday, 9 May 2025, of criminal damage to the 150-year-old tree and £1,114 of damage to Hadrian’s Wall. The Sycamore Gap tree, a national landmark featured in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, was valued at £622,000.
The court heard that on the night of 27 September 2023, Graham and Carruthers drove 30 miles in stormy weather from Cumbria to Northumberland, where they used a chainsaw to cut down the tree in under three minutes.
“Mindless Act of Vandalism”
The prosecution described the act as “a mindless and deliberate destruction of heritage.” Prosecutor Richard Wright KC said the pair treated it like a trophy moment, citing a photo found on Graham’s phone showing a chunk of wood and a chainsaw believed to have come from the tree.
Video evidence played in court showed the tree falling, with metadata linking the footage to Graham’s iPhone. Voice notes revealed the pair discussing the media coverage, with Graham saying:
“It’s going to go wild.”
National Outrage and Cultural Loss
The felling sparked national outrage. The tree had become a symbol of hope, memory, and connection, serving as a backdrop for wedding proposals, memorials, and family photographs.
Northumbria Police Superintendent Kevin Waring said:
“There is no justification for what they did. This was an unfathomable act.”
Both men denied the charges but were unanimously convicted by a jury. They will be sentenced on 15 July.
Legacy Lives On
Although the tree is gone, its legacy will live on. The National Trust has preserved twigs, seeds, and saplings. Forty-nine saplings will be planted across the UK as “trees of hope”, while the largest surviving section of the original tree will go on display at the National Landscape Discovery Centre later this year.
Tony Gates, CEO of Northumberland National Park, said:
“The enormity of the loss can’t be overstated. This place meant so much to so many people — emotionally and spiritually.”
