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Sycamore Gap Vandals Convicted as Sentencing Looms

Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers face up to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of felling the iconic tree and damaging Hadrian's Wall.

NORTHUMBERLAND, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: 'Sycamore Gap' tree on Hadrian's Wall lies on the ground leaving behind only a stump in the spot it once proudly stood, on September 28, 2023 northeast of Haltwhistle, England. The tree, which was apparently felled overnight, was one of the UK's most photographed and appeared in the 1991 Kevin Costner film "Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves." (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • The Sycamore Gap tree, a 150-year-old cultural landmark near Hadrian's Wall, was deliberately felled in September 2023, sparking widespread outrage.
  • On May 9, 2025, Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were convicted of two counts of criminal damage, including harm to the historic wall caused by the tree's fall.
  • Prosecutors relied on phone location data, video metadata, and messages to link the defendants to the crime, despite their claims of innocence.
  • The sentencing, scheduled for July 15, 2025, at Newcastle Crown Court, will be televised, with potential penalties of up to 10 years under guidelines for heritage damage.
  • The pair were also investigated for alleged homophobic assaults in 2023, but the Crown Prosecution Service declined to bring charges due to insufficient evidence.