Men who felled 150-year-old tree in just three minutes found guilty and face brutal sentence
Two men have been found guilty of criminal damage after felling the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland, England in September 2023, as video footage, voice notes between the pair, and damning evidence paint a clear picture of the situation for many.
Normally you'd rely on live streamers to not only do stupid things but also film themselves in the act, and that's what has left some of the most popular creators facing significant prison sentences in foreign countries after wrecking havoc live on air.
Neither Daniel Michael Graham, 39, or Adam Carruthers, 32, were seemingly looking for social media notoriety though, as they committed an act many consider 'heinous' in the early hours of the morning, all while setting up their phone to film the whole thing.
Planted over 150 years ago by the historic site of Hadrian's Wall, the Sycamore Gap tree has become a much-loved and iconic landmark for many in the north of England.
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It's one of the most photographed trees in the entire country due to it's picturesque framing, and is often the site of many memorable moments such as engagements, weddings, and more.
However, the wider community was left in shock on September 28, 2023 after a police officer discovered that the tree had been illegally fell that morning in a 'mindless' act of violence.
The aforementioned Graham and Carruthers were soon apprehended by police, who then discovered that the former had video footage of the tree being taken down with a chainsaw on his phone, and the pair had also exchanged voice messages discussing the 'virality' of their act, especially their excitement towards the public's negative outcry to the act.
Additionally, police also discovered a wedge which experts indicate has a 'very strong chance' of being from the Sycamore Gap tree, and is understood to be a trophy of sorts that the pair took from the scene of the crime to commemorate their act.
Their trial has now come to a conclusion, as the jurors took five hours to reach a guilty verdict that saw Graham and Carruthers charged with two counts of criminal damage, with the sentencing scheduled to take place in a few months on July 15, 2025, as reported by the BBC.
Mrs Justice Lambert, the judge in charge of the pair's court case, has proclaimed that they should be prepared for "lengthy" custodial sentences, which could be as long as 10 years as indicated by iNews.
Reacting to the verdict, one commenter on Reddit argues that they "could not have been more guilty if they'd shown up in court wearing 'we did it!' t-shirts," likely due to the copious amounts of evidence the pair collected of them doing the act, although they still pleaded not guilty.
Others are left astounded at the lack of motivation behind the tree being felled, with one writing: "So there wasn't even a reason behind it? I remember at the time there was theories about land disputed with the National Trust etc. but they were literally just d***heads who though it would be fully!"
Another adds that they "kind of expect that sort of thing from teenagers who do dumb stuff without thinking it though all the time, but this is two fully grown men who presumably had to plan everything, shift equipment, etc."