Sycamore Gap vandals sentenced to four years and three months in prison

Two men who were found guilty of cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree have been sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court. Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers have both been sentenced to four years and three months imprisonment.

Both were sentenced today at Newcastle Crown Court. 

The pair were found guilty in May of two counts of criminal damage, firstly to Hadrians Wall and secondly the cutting down of the tree at the famous beauty spot in Northumberland. 

At the end of their trial Mrs Justice Lambert said that both of the defendants could expect "Lengthy" sentences. 

Todays proceedings began with the prosecution outlining the value of tree. The prosecution places the value at £458,000, but the parties disagreed. The important thing is that the tree was placed at having a value of more than £5000, which is the legal threshold for putting the crime into the higher category of harm. 

Daniel Graham previous had convictions for violence and battery between 2007-2016 and public order offences between 2021-2022. These were related to relationships he was in, he was never sent to prison. Adam Carruthers had no previous convictions. The pairs previous convictions were outlined by prosecutor Richard Wright KC. 

Andrew Poad the general manager of The National Trust said the "Iconic tree... could never be replaced". He said the outpouring of love and emotion was "unprecedented" with the "overwhelming sense of loss and confusion" felt across the world. He said the reason for the tree being felled was "beyond comprehension". He said the cost of removal of the tree and repairs was over £30,000 with £20,000 allocated to ongoing work. 

During his opening comments prosecutor Richard Wright KC said the sentence should be 'just and proportionate'.

Upon sentencing, Judge Mrs Justice Lambert said "I'm sure that the offence in count one involved a high degree of planning and preparation...The venture required thought and preparation." "I am satisfied you intended to destroy the tree." 

She continued that the public reaction was one of shock and bewilderment, and that she must take the nature of this public feeling into consideration. 

"I am satisfied you are both equally culpable."

A digitally reconstructed image of the tree recently appeared in the Danny Boyle film 28 years Later, which was filmed in the North East.