The two numpties who filmed themselves cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap Tree at Hadrian’s Wall for a laugh have been found guilty of criminal damage.
Adam Carruthers and Daniel Graham drove 40 minutes at night to reach the remote spot in Northumberland, in September 2023, and took just 2 minutes 41 seconds to fell the centuries-old tree.
The pair took a wedge of the trunk as a trophy and spent the next day excitedly texting and voice noting each other about news coverage of the crime.
Apparently the court case was an absolute comedy show, with the pair having fallen out since chopping down the tree and accusing each other of setting the other up.
Despite literal video and photo evidence from Graham’s phone, ANPR cameras picking up their journey in Graham’s Land Rover, and messages between the pair discussing their actions, each still denied that they were responsible for cutting down the tree.
Today, groundworker Graham, 39, and mechanic Carruthers, 32, were each found guilty of two counts of criminal damage – one to the tree and one to Hadrian’s Wall, which was damaged when the sycamore fell on it. They were convicted of causing £622,191 of criminal damage to the tree and £1,144 of damage to the wall.
When police initially arrested the pair and searched Graham’s phone, they found a two minute and 41 second video which showed the sycamore being cut down at 12.30am on September 28, with the footage being sent to Carruthers on WhatsApp.
They also found photos and videos of a wedge of tree trunk and a chainsaw in the boot of Graham’s Range Rover, although these have never been found.
Messages and voice notes between the pair the following day included chat about the story going ‘viral’, reference to ‘an operation like we did last night’ and joking that damage looked like it had been done by a professional.
During the case, Graham accused Carruthers of taking his Range Rover and mobile phone to Sycamore Gap that night without his knowledge, which is utterly hilarious.
Graham also claimed during his evidence that Carruthers had an obsession with the Sycamore Gap Tree, saying he had described it as ‘the most famous tree in the world’ and spoken of wanting to cut it down.
Carruthers denied this, and later said he ‘didn’t see what the big deal was‘, and that the Sycamore Gap was ‘just a tree.’
Unfortunately, since the pair don’t want to admit to what they very blatantly did, no one can say for sure what the motive was. It does seem very probable though that they did it purely for a laugh i.e. to be absolute c****.
I remember the initial rumour was that a disgruntled farmer had chopped down the tree to get back at the National Trust, and that might’ve at least have made some sense motivation-wise. Instead it just seems like it was a bit of fun for Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum here.
The pair will now be sentenced on July 15.
For unreal footage of 4 people being struck by lightning while taking cover under a tree, click HERE.
