What started as a drunken night between two former friends spiraled into a nationwide controversy.
Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers claim they were just on a “moronic mission” when they ended up illegally felling one of the UK’s most beloved trees — the iconic Sycamore Gap next to Hadrian’s Wall.
While they admit they were drunk and reckless, both insist they didn’t plan to cut the tree down.
From Cumbria to Crime Scene: A Stormy 40-Minute Drive
Graham and Carruthers left their homes in Cumbria in the dead of night, driving through stormy weather for nearly an hour to reach the historic landmark.
At the Sycamore Gap, one of them held the chainsaw while the other filmed — though it remains murky who did what.
That act led to criminal damage charges and could soon land both men behind bars for years.
Denial of Intent, But Court Isn’t Convinced
The two men have now admitted they were on a “mission” together but continue to deny the tree felling was premeditated.
Prosecutor Richard Wright, however, told the court the pair were not too drunk to plan and execute the act.
He said the evidence shows they were sober enough to carry out a coordinated and purposeful act of vandalism.
A Look at Their Records: One With a Past, One Without
Daniel Graham, 39, has a history of run-ins with the law.
The court heard of four previous offenses — two for battery and two public order breaches.
He also once stole logs with a chainsaw. Graham’s been in custody since December 2023.
Adam Carruthers, 32, has a clean record until now.
No prior convictions, no warnings, no cautions.
He’s been detained since their conviction in May this year.
The Tree’s Priceless Value Still Sparks Debate
When the tree was first valued, experts put the damage at over £622,000.
Some contested that figure, arguing for a lower estimate.
But Mrs Justice Lambert has made one thing clear — regardless of the exact amount, it’s undeniably worth well over £5,000, which significantly affects the severity of the sentencing.
National Trust Mourns the Irreplaceable Loss
Andrew Poad from the National Trust delivered a moving victim impact statement.
He described the tree as a place of memories, proposals, photos, and peace.
“It was beyond comprehension,” he said of the destruction. The felling caused a surge of visitors, some calling their trip a “pilgrimage to the loss.”
From Best Friends to Silent Strangers in Court
Once inseparable friends, Graham and Carruthers now sit silently beside one another in the courtroom.
They’ve been physically separated by a court officer and haven’t exchanged a glance, let alone a word.
Each appears to blame the other for the fallout that followed their crime.
Courtroom Tensions and Security Concerns
As sentencing got underway, the courtroom was filled to capacity.
Legal debates delayed the hearing, with a request from security for the men to be handcuffed during proceedings.
The judge later denied that application.
Outside the courtroom, emotions ran high, and press benches were packed.
Wrongly Accused Lumberjack Speaks Out
Meanwhile, former lumberjack Walter Renwick, who was falsely accused online, revealed he had to wear a Rod Stewart wig in public to avoid harassment.
Police even raided his home.
“It was heartbreaking,” he told the BBC.
Drones flew over his property and officers swarmed the area, convinced he was the culprit — until the real suspects were found.
The Viral Footage That Sealed Their Fate
When police searched Daniel Graham’s phone, they discovered the smoking gun — a video clip lasting 2 minutes and 41 seconds.
The footage, taken at 12:30am on September 28, showed the Sycamore Gap tree falling under the chainsaw’s roar.
The next day, the pair shared voice notes, joking about the story going viral.
How Police Tracked Down the Vandals
Despite the crime happening in the remote dark hills of Northumberland, police quickly zeroed in on the culprits.
Graham’s Range Rover was picked up by number plate recognition cameras.
His phone’s signal also painted a trail east toward Sycamore Gap — until it was suspiciously switched off.
That digital trail, along with the damning video, was enough to charge them.
Facing a Decade Behind Bars
The maximum penalty for criminal damage is 10 years, especially when the target is a cultural landmark.
The tree had stood for more than 100 years and was woven deeply into British cultural memory.
Sentencing will reflect both the physical damage and the emotional toll left behind.
Who Are These Men Behind the Chainsaw?
Graham ran a groundwork company and was familiar with chainsaws.
His business suffered once his name was tied to the felling.
The court heard that he even made an anonymous call to police, blaming Carruthers in hopes of deflecting blame.
Carruthers, a mechanic and father of two, denied having a fixation on the Sycamore tree.
He insisted he wasn’t obsessed with it — despite Graham’s claims to the contrary.
Both once shared earnings from tree felling jobs, but now they sit in court, accusing one another.
No Justifiable Reason Ever Offered
Neither man has ever given a solid reason for targeting the Sycamore Gap tree.
Police say they remain baffled.
Superintendent Kevin Waring called their actions “mindless vandalism” and confirmed that no motive has ever been provided by either man.
The Iconic Tree That Touched the World
The Sycamore Gap tree wasn’t just a tree — it was a landmark, featured in everything from postcards to the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves film.
For many, it was a symbol of peace, memory, and history. Its fall sparked global heartbreak.
As archaeologist Tony Wilmott put it, this tree became a totemic symbol, anchoring moments of joy, grief, and celebration for generations.
The Felling That Took Less Than Three Minutes
The tree, believed to have been planted in the 1800s, stood for over a century before it was brought down in just under three minutes.
Rangers from Northumberland National Park were brought to tears at the sight of it lying shattered across the Roman wall.
Awaiting Justice for a National Symbol
As Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers await their sentencing, many are still left wondering what could have driven them to destroy something so deeply meaningful.
The courtroom now holds the final decision — and the weight of a nation’s grief.