In late September 2023, during the first major storm of the fall in the U.K., a plot was devised to take down one of England’s beloved trees. Daniel Graham messaged his friend, Adam Carruthers, instructing him to prepare the saws under the guise of clearing debris from fallen trees. However, it was later revealed that Graham and Carruthers were responsible for the destruction of the famous Sycamore Gap tree that night, rather than cleaning up storm damage.
Following a trial in Newcastle Crown Court, the pair were found guilty of two counts of criminal damage. Despite their denial of involvement, digital evidence, including a video on Graham’s phone, placed them at the scene of the crime. The video captured the moment the tree fell, with the unmistakable sound of a chainsaw in the background.
Located in Northumberland National Park, the Sycamore Gap tree held significance for its picturesque location between two hills along Emperor Hadrian’s ancient wall. The tree’s legacy, dating back around 150 years, attracted tourists, photographers, and those seeking solace. Its destruction was deemed a deliberate and mindless act by prosecutors.
The defendants, Graham and Carruthers, who were once close friends, could face lengthy prison sentences following their conviction. Despite their claims of innocence and attempts to blame each other, they were both held in custody awaiting sentencing. The maximum penalty for criminal damage is 10 years in prison.
The two men were believed to have collaborated from the beginning, as evidence indicated that Carruthers had gone out of his way earlier in the day to scout the area near the tree. While Wright couldn’t determine who physically cut down the tree or who recorded the act, it was confirmed that only Graham and Carruthers had the video footage on their devices. As Graham’s vehicle made its way back to his home in Carlisle, Carruthers received a video from his accomplice showing their child, to which he responded, “I have a better video.” Wright pointed out that at that time, only the two men knew about the tree being cut down and had access to the video.
Following the discovery of the fallen tree, the two men exchanged frantic messages, with Graham mentioning that the incident had gone viral globally. Carruthers shared a Facebook comment criticizing the vandals’ behavior, to which he responded by suggesting that the critic should attempt a similar “operation” like they did.
Despite the police not being able to locate the chainsaw used in the incident, both men had access to multiple saws, which they tried to downplay. Additionally, investigators couldn’t find a specific wedge of wood that had been cut from the tree trunk to control its fall direction. However, photos on Graham’s phone showed a piece of wood and a chainsaw in his vehicle at his residence. A forensic botanist suggested that this wood could be the missing wedge taken as a trophy.
The prosecution did not provide a clear motive for the crime other than describing it as senseless vandalism. Wright hinted during his closing argument that the men may have cut down the tree for amusement but underestimated the negative impact it would have, likening it to mindless destruction. The tree was originally valued at over £620,000, with wall damage estimated at around £1,100. Prosecutor Rebecca Brown later mentioned that these figures may be disputed and likely lower, but still significant for sentencing considerations.
