Latest news with #RobinHood:PrinceOfThieves
The Age
11 hours ago
- The Age
‘Moronic' vandals jailed for cutting down iconic Sycamore Gap tree
'Today felt profoundly sad. There are no winners,' Dodd said. 'The Sycamore Gap tree wasn't just wood and leaves. It was a marker of memory, history, belonging.' The tree, in a saddle between two hills, had been known to locals but became famous after a cameo in Kevin Costner's 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves. It drew tourists, lovers, landscape photographers and those who spread the ashes of loved ones. It was voted English 'Tree of the Year' in 2016. At trial, the two men testified they were at their homes on the night in question and had nothing to do with destroying the tree. But faced with spending up to 10 years behind bars, they changed their tune when interviewed by a probation officer in advance of sentencing, though they sought to minimise their culpability, the judge said. Carruthers said he drank a bottle of whisky after a rough day and everything was a blur, Lambert said. While Graham admitted he had joined Carruthers on the journey, he said he was shocked that his former friend had actually cut the tree down. 'Although there may be grains of truth in what you have each said, I do not accept that your explanations to the probation officers are wholly honest or the whole story,' Lambert said. The tree's felling in Northumberland National Park on September 28, 2023, caused fury and condemnation as news quickly spread beyond the ancient wall built by Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 122 to protect the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire. Messages of heartbreak poured in from around the world, said Andrew Poad, general manager of the heritage and nature conservation charity National Trust. 'This iconic tree can never be replaced,' Poad said in a statement read by a prosecutor. Loading 'It belonged to the people. It was a totemic symbol for many; a destination to visit whilst walking Hadrian's Wall, a place to make memories, take photos in all seasons; but it was also a place of sanctuary.' Prosecutors said the tree's value was estimated at £460,000 ($945,000), while Graham's lawyer said it was valued at about £150,000. Graham, who had a small construction business, and Carruthers, a mechanic who sometimes worked with him, had once been close friends. But the men who showed up together for their initial court appearance with their faces masked had a falling-out as the case progressed. Graham said Carruthers was guilty and asserted that his friend had tried to frame him. Carruthers' lawyer said Graham's story was implausible and accused him of trying to deflect blame. Jurors quickly convicted both in May based on a trove of digital evidence. Graham's Range Rover was tracked to a location near the tree around the time it fell. Grainy video of the felling was found on his phone – with metadata showing that it was shot at the tree's location. As digital data showed Graham's vehicle on its way back to where the two lived about 40 minutes away, Carruthers got a text from his girlfriend with footage of their 12-day-old son. 'I've got a better video than that,' Carruthers replied. The black-and-white video showed a single figure next to the tree's silhouette as a chainsaw sparked to life. The person leaned into the trunk and in less than three minutes the tree that had stood for about 150 years teetered and fell. Prosecutors couldn't say at trial who cut down the tree and who memorialised the senseless act, but said both were equally culpable. Lambert agreed that both shared equal responsibility. But she said the men's recent admissions made it clear that Carruthers wielded the saw while Graham shot the video. Graham sent the video to Carruthers. 'Unfortunately, it is no more than drunken stupidity,' defence lawyer Andrew Gurney said. 'He felled that tree and it is something he will regret for the rest of his life. There's no better explanation than that.'
Sydney Morning Herald
11 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Moronic' vandals jailed for cutting down iconic Sycamore Gap tree
'Today felt profoundly sad. There are no winners,' Dodd said. 'The Sycamore Gap tree wasn't just wood and leaves. It was a marker of memory, history, belonging.' The tree, in a saddle between two hills, had been known to locals but became famous after a cameo in Kevin Costner's 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves. It drew tourists, lovers, landscape photographers and those who spread the ashes of loved ones. It was voted English 'Tree of the Year' in 2016. At trial, the two men testified they were at their homes on the night in question and had nothing to do with destroying the tree. But faced with spending up to 10 years behind bars, they changed their tune when interviewed by a probation officer in advance of sentencing, though they sought to minimise their culpability, the judge said. Carruthers said he drank a bottle of whisky after a rough day and everything was a blur, Lambert said. While Graham admitted he had joined Carruthers on the journey, he said he was shocked that his former friend had actually cut the tree down. 'Although there may be grains of truth in what you have each said, I do not accept that your explanations to the probation officers are wholly honest or the whole story,' Lambert said. The tree's felling in Northumberland National Park on September 28, 2023, caused fury and condemnation as news quickly spread beyond the ancient wall built by Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 122 to protect the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire. Messages of heartbreak poured in from around the world, said Andrew Poad, general manager of the heritage and nature conservation charity National Trust. 'This iconic tree can never be replaced,' Poad said in a statement read by a prosecutor. Loading 'It belonged to the people. It was a totemic symbol for many; a destination to visit whilst walking Hadrian's Wall, a place to make memories, take photos in all seasons; but it was also a place of sanctuary.' Prosecutors said the tree's value was estimated at £460,000 ($945,000), while Graham's lawyer said it was valued at about £150,000. Graham, who had a small construction business, and Carruthers, a mechanic who sometimes worked with him, had once been close friends. But the men who showed up together for their initial court appearance with their faces masked had a falling-out as the case progressed. Graham said Carruthers was guilty and asserted that his friend had tried to frame him. Carruthers' lawyer said Graham's story was implausible and accused him of trying to deflect blame. Jurors quickly convicted both in May based on a trove of digital evidence. Graham's Range Rover was tracked to a location near the tree around the time it fell. Grainy video of the felling was found on his phone – with metadata showing that it was shot at the tree's location. As digital data showed Graham's vehicle on its way back to where the two lived about 40 minutes away, Carruthers got a text from his girlfriend with footage of their 12-day-old son. 'I've got a better video than that,' Carruthers replied. The black-and-white video showed a single figure next to the tree's silhouette as a chainsaw sparked to life. The person leaned into the trunk and in less than three minutes the tree that had stood for about 150 years teetered and fell. Prosecutors couldn't say at trial who cut down the tree and who memorialised the senseless act, but said both were equally culpable. Lambert agreed that both shared equal responsibility. But she said the men's recent admissions made it clear that Carruthers wielded the saw while Graham shot the video. Graham sent the video to Carruthers. 'Unfortunately, it is no more than drunken stupidity,' defence lawyer Andrew Gurney said. 'He felled that tree and it is something he will regret for the rest of his life. There's no better explanation than that.'
Euronews
13 hours ago
- Euronews
Men who felled iconic Sycamore Gap tree jailed for four years
Vandals who cut down England's beloved Sycamore Gap tree were sentenced on Tuesday to more than four years in prison for damaging the country's natural heritage and for the widespread outrage and distress it caused. Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers set out on the night of 28 September 2023 to carry out what a prosecutor called a "moronic mission," and toppled the iconic sycamore onto Hadrian's Wall. Graham, 39, and Carruthers, 32, were each convicted of two counts of criminal damage, one for destroying the tree, the other for damaging the Roman wall that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Justice Christina Lambert sentenced the pair in Newcastle Crown Court to four years and three months in prison because there was a high degree of premeditation and planning to destroy the tree and because the act had angered and saddened so many people. Lambert concluded the two had largely done it for the "sheer bravado." "Felling the tree in the middle of the night and in the middle of a storm gave you some sort of thrill," she said. "You revelled in the coverage, taking evident pride in what you had done, knowing that you were responsible for the crime which so many were talking about." Sarah Dodd, a lawyer specialising in tree law, said it was the first time in the UK that someone had been sentenced to prison for illegally felling a tree. "Today felt profoundly sad. There are no winners," Dodd said. "The Sycamore Gap tree wasn't just wood and leaves. It was a marker of memory, history, belonging." The tree, perched in a saddle between two hills, had been known to locals for its scenic setting, but became famous after a cameo in Kevin Costner's 1991 film 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.' It drew tourists, lovers, landscape photographers and those who spread the ashes of loved ones. In 2016, it was voted England's "Tree of the Year". Some of the mystery behind the crime evaporated during the hearing. At trial, the two men testified they were at their respective homes on the night in question and had nothing to do with destroying the tree. But faced with spending up to 10 years behind bars, they changed their testimonies when interviewed by a probation officer in advance of sentencing, though they sought to minimise their culpability, the judge said. Carruthers said he drank a bottle of whisky after a rough day and everything was a blur, Lambert said. While Graham admitted he had joined Carruthers on the journey, he said he was shocked that his former friend had actually cut the tree down. "Although there may be grains of truth in what you have each said, I do not accept that your explanations to the probation officers are wholly honest or the whole story," Lambert said. The illegal felling in Northumberland National Park caused fury and condemnation as news quickly spread beyond the ancient wall built by Emperor Hadrian in AD 122 to protect the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire. "This iconic tree can never be replaced," Andrew Poad, general manager of the heritage and nature conservation charity National Trust, said in a statement read by a prosecutor. "It belonged to the people. It was a totemic symbol for many; a destination to visit whilst walking Hadrian's Wall, a place to make memories, take photos in all seasons; but it was also a place of sanctuary." Despite the denials by the defendants, jurors quickly convicted them in May after prosecutors presented a case that relied heavily on digital evidence. Graham's Range Rover was tracked to a location near the tree around the time it fell. Grainy video of the felling was found on his phone, with metadata showing that it was shot at the location of the tree. As digital data showed Graham's vehicle on its way back to where the two lived about 40 minutes away, Carruthers got a text from his girlfriend with footage of their 12-day-old son. "I've got a better video than that," Carruthers replied. The black and white video showed a single figure next to the tree's prominent silhouette as the wind blew and a chainsaw sparked to life. The person leaned into the trunk and in less than three minutes the tree that had stood for about 150 years teetered and crashed to the ground. Prosecutors couldn't say at trial who cut down the tree and who filmed the act, but said both were equally culpable. Lambert agreed that both shared equal responsibility. But she said that the recent admissions of both men made it clear that Carruthers wielded the saw while Graham shot the video. Graham had sent the video to Carruthers. Carruthers will have to carry the burden for his actions like a "form of personal penance," defence lawyer Andrew Gurney said. "Unfortunately, it is no more than drunken stupidity," Gurney said. "He felled that tree and it is something he will regret for the rest of his life. There's no better explanation than that."
The Province
14 hours ago
- The Province
Vandals who cut down Sycamore Gap tree sentenced in England to more than 4 years in prison
Published Jul 15, 2025 • 4 minute read This combination created in Londonon May 9, 2025 of undated handout pictures released by Britain's Northumbria Police taken in Newcastle, shows Daniel Graham (L) and Adam Carruthers, the two men convicted over felling of the tree at Sycamore Gap. Photo by - / Northumbria Police/AFP via Getty LONDON (AP) — Two men who cut down England's beloved Sycamore Gap tree were sentenced Tuesday to more than four years in prison. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The tree stood for nearly 150 years before Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers carried out what a prosecutor called a 'moronic mission' and cut it down in the middle of the night, toppling it onto Hadrian's Wall. Graham, 39, and Carruthers, 32, were each convicted of two counts of criminal damage — one for destroying the tree, the other for damaging the ancient wall. Justice Christina Lambert sentenced the pair each to four years and three months in prison during the hearing in Newcastle Crown Court. The tree, perched in a saddle between two hills, had been known to locals for its scenic setting but became famous after a cameo in Kevin Costner's 1991 film 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.' It drew tourists, lovers, landscape photographers and even those who spread the ashes of loved ones. It was voted English 'Tree of the Year' in 2016. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below. LONDON (AP) — The two men who long denied cutting down England's beloved Sycamore Gap tree changed their tune Tuesday as they faced several years in prison for the crime. Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers previously testified at trial that they had nothing to do with the vandalism, but a prosecutor said that the two convicts now blame booze for the act as they admitted before sentencing that they had been on what he termed a 'moronic mission' to topple the tree. Prosecutor Richard Wright said that it was a 'fanciful proposition' that they didn't intend to cut down the tree along Hadrian's Wall or realize what they were doing until it was too late. 'The court can be sure they were sober, prepared and planned to do what they did,' Wright said. He said the pair should serve prison sentences between 18 months and 4 years. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Justice Christina Lambert was due to sentence the pair later in the afternoon at Newcastle Crown Court. Graham, 39, and Carruthers, 32, were each convicted in May of two counts of criminal damage — one for killing the tree, and the other for damaging the ancient wall. The illegal felling in Northumberland National Park on Sept. 28, 2023, caused instant outrage and news quickly spread beyond the ancient wall built by Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 122 to protect the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire. It wasn't Britain's biggest or oldest tree, but the sycamore was prized for its picturesque setting, symmetrically planted between two hills along the wall that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tree had long been known to locals but became famous after a cameo in Kevin Costner's 1991 film 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.' It drew tourists, lovers, landscape photographers and even those who spread the ashes of loved ones. It was voted English 'Tree of the Year' in 2016. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'This iconic tree can never be replaced,' Andrew Poad, general manager of the heritage and nature conservation charity National Trust, said in a statement read in court by a prosecutor. 'It belonged to the people. It was a totemic symbol for many; a destination to visit whilst walking Hadrian's Wall, a place to make memories, take photos in all seasons; but it was also a place of sanctuary.' One man wielded a chainsaw while the other captured the felling on grainy video on a cellphone. Prosecutors couldn't say who cut down the tree and who memorialized the senseless act, but both were equally culpable. In less than three minutes, the tree that had stood nearly 150 years crashed to the ground. Police officers look at the tree at Sycamore Gap, next to Hadrian's Wall, in Northumberland, England, Thursday Sept. 28, 2023 which has come down overnight. Photo by Owen Humphreys / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Carruthers will have to carry the burden for his actions like a 'form of personal penance,' attorney Andrew Gurney said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It was no more than drunken stupidity,' Gurney said, 'and something he would regret for the rest of his life.' At trial, the two men — once the best of friends who have fallen out since their arrests — testified they were at their respective homes on the night of the crime and downplayed their skills working with chainsaws. But evidence shown to the jury implicated both men. Graham's Range Rover was near the tree around the time it fell. Video of the felling was found on his phone — with metadata showing that it was shot at the location of the tree. As digital data showed Graham's vehicle on its way back to where the two lived about 40 minutes away, Carruthers got a text from his girlfriend with footage of their 12-day-old son. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I've got a better video than that,' Carruthers replied. The jury didn't hear evidence of a motive for the crime, but Wright suggested in his closing argument that the two had been on a 'moronic mission' and cut down the tree as a joke. 'They woke up the morning after and … it must have dawned on them that they couldn't see anyone else smiling,' Wright said. Read More Crime Vancouver Canucks Local News News Sports Betting
Los Angeles Times
16 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Vandals who cut down Sycamore Gap tree sentenced in England to more than 4 years in prison
LONDON — The vandals who cut down England's beloved Sycamore Gap tree were sentenced Tuesday to more than four years in prison for causing irreversible damage and serious distress. The tree stood for nearly 150 years before Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers set out on dark and stormy night to carry out what a prosecutor called a 'moronic mission' to fell the majestic sycamore, which crashed down onto Hadrian's Wall. Graham, 39, and Carruthers, 32, were each convicted of two counts of criminal damage — one for destroying the tree, the other for damaging the ancient wall. Justice Christina Lambert sentenced the pair each to four years and three months in prison during the hearing at Newcastle Crown Court. The tree, perched in a saddle between two hills, had been known to locals for its scenic setting, but became famous after a cameo in Kevin Costner's 1991 film 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.' It drew tourists, lovers, landscape photographers and those who spread the ashes of loved ones. It was voted English 'Tree of the Year' in 2016. The two men had long denied cutting down the tree, but changed their tune as they faced their fate. They both testified at trial that they had nothing to do with the vandalism, but a prosecutor said that they eventually admitted to the crime and blamed booze for the act. Prosecutor Richard Wright said that it was a 'fanciful proposition' that they didn't intend to cut down the tree along Hadrian's Wall or realize what they were doing until it was too late. 'The court can be sure they were sober, prepared and planned to do what they did,' Wright said. He said that the pair should serve prison sentences between 18 months and four years. The illegal felling in Northumberland National Park on Sept. 28, 2023, caused instant outrage and news quickly spread beyond the ancient wall built by Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 122 to protect the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire. It wasn't Britain's biggest or oldest tree, but the sycamore was prized for its picturesque setting, symmetrically planted between two hills along the wall that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 'This iconic tree can never be replaced,' Andrew Poad, general manager of the heritage and nature conservation charity National Trust, said in a statement read in court by a prosecutor. 'It belonged to the people. It was a totemic symbol for many; a destination to visit whilst walking Hadrian's Wall, a place to make memories, take photos in all seasons; but it was also a place of sanctuary.' One man wielded a chainsaw while the other captured the felling on grainy video on a cellphone. Prosecutors couldn't say who cut down the tree and who memorialized the senseless act, but both were equally culpable. In less than three minutes, the tree that had stood nearly 150 years crashed to the ground. Carruthers will have to carry the burden for his actions like a 'form of personal penance,' attorney Andrew Gurney said. 'It was no more than drunken stupidity,' Gurney said, 'and something he would regret for the rest of his life.' At trial, the two men — once the best of friends who have fallen out since their arrests — testified they were at their respective homes on the night of the crime and downplayed their expertise working with chainsaws. But evidence shown to the jury implicated both men. Graham's Range Rover was near the tree around the time it fell. Video of the felling was found on his phone — with metadata showing that it was shot at the location of the tree. As digital data showed Graham's vehicle on its way back to where the two lived about 40 minutes away, Carruthers got a text from his girlfriend with footage of their 12-day-old son. 'I've got a better video than that,' Carruthers replied. The jury didn't hear evidence of a motive for the crime, but Wright suggested in his closing argument that the two had been on a 'moronic mission' and cut down the tree as a joke. 'They woke up the morning after and ... it must have dawned on them that they couldn't see anyone else smiling,' Wright said. Melley writes for the Associated Press.
