From bragging posts to iconic vid – the damning evidence that led to arrest of idiots who chopped down Sycamore Gap tree

The Sun

13 hours ago

THE two idiots who felled the historic Sycamore Gap tree have finally been jailed for their shocking crime.
Now, we reveal the damning evidence that led to their conviction, from bragging posts to a shocking video of the chopping.
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Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were jailed on Tuesday for four years and three months each.
Detective Inspector Calum Meikle, who investigated the felling, said he knew he'd solved the crime when he saw the tree's "fantastically famous outline" on one of the perpetrator's phones.
He revealed that officers were "tipped off" about Graham and Carruthers' involvement a few weeks after the shocking felling of the historic tree in September 2023.
The tip-off stated that the pair of ground workers were responsible for chopping the tree down, even keeping a piece of the wood as a trophy.
This led to the arrest of both men and seizing of their phones.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, DI Meikle said a video recovered from Graham's device was incredibly dark, with details almost impossible to see.
However, after sending it to be digitally enhanced, investigators discovered they had found evidence of the tree being destroyed.
Gasps could be heard at Newcastle Crown Court as the now iconic grainy black and white video - accompanied by the sound of a revving chainsaw and cracking wood - was shown for the first time.
DI Meikle said: "I'm always impressed with what our digital forensic units are able to achieve.
"But, as you have seen from the video, as the person filming moves back, it shows us that fantastically famous outline (which) was undoubtedly the Sycamore Gap tree.
Men who cut down iconic Sycamore Gap tree sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in jail
"I was very pleased to have that evidence."
Graham's phone also housed multiple other pieces of damning evidence, including photographs of a wedge of the tree trunk taken by the criminal as well as that of a chainsaw in the boot of his Range Rover.
The pair of idiots not only chopped down the history tree but also damaged Hadrian's Wall during their "moronic mission".
In just two minutes and 41 seconds, the two men chopped down the tree, which had stood next to the historic wall for more than a century.
At their trial, the court heard how the pair had only recently admitted to responsibility for the felling in interviews with the Probation Service.
They accepted they drove 30 miles through a storm to chop down the iconic landmark in the early hours of September 28, 2023.
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Mrs Justice Christina Lambert said: "I can now be sure you, Adam Carruthers, were the person who felled the tree and you, Daniel Graham, assisted and encouraged him by driving there and back and not least by filming it on your phone."
As they fled the scene, Carruthers forwarded the sick video to his partner.
The wedge of the iconic tree - which was photographed in their vehicle - has never been found.
Following their shocking crime, and as news broke of the vandalism, the pair shared social media posts about the tree, with Graham saying to Carruthers "here we go," as they "revelled" in reports of the crime.
Although prosecutors said the friends had chopped the famous tree down for "a bit of a laugh," and suggested Carruthers was so obsessed with the Sycamore Gap that he wanted the wedge as a special souvenir for his newborn daughter, neither has offered any proper explanation for why they did what they did.
This week, Carruthers claimed he had drunk a bottle of whisky and could barely remember chopping down the tree - although the judge said this was implausible due to the skill and coordination of the crime.
Andrew Gurney, representing Carruthers, said he had made the admissions in a pre-sentence report.
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He said: "He does wish to cleanse his conscience of what he has done. People want to know 'Why? Why did you conduct this mindless act?'
"Unfortunately, it is no more than drunken stupidity. He felled that tree and it is something he will regret for the rest of his life.
"There's no better explanation than that.'
Richard Wright KC, prosecuting, said there had been a 'high degree of planning and premeditation'.
He said: "This was an expedition which required significant planning in terms of taking a vehicle, driving for about 40 minutes to a car park, taking with them appropriate specialist equipment, carrying the equipment for about 20 minutes' walk in each direction.
'The felling was carried out in a deliberate, professional way.'
On the other side, Graham continued to blame his accomplice, insisting cutting the tree down had been Carruthers' "dream" and "his show" which he simply went along with.
The criminal also claimed he was "shocked" that Carruthers had followed through with his plan.