Two men who cut down Sycamore Gap tree jailed for 'moronic mission'
Former friends Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were convicted of criminal damage to the much-loved tree, which had stood for more than 100 years in a fold in the landscape, and were both jailed for four months and three months.
They were also convicted of criminal damage to Hadrian's Wall, caused when the sycamore fell on the ancient monument. Two men have been jailed for felling the famous Sycamore Gap tree in what has been described a 'moronic mission.' Pic: Jeff)
Richard Wright KC, prosecuting, told jurors the pair had engaged in a 'moronic mission' to cut down the landmark, travelling for more than 40 minutes from their homes in Cumbria, then carrying their equipment across pitch black moorland during a storm back in September 2023.
During her sentencing remarks, Mrs Justice Lambert said she could now be sure that Adam Carruthers cut the Sycamore Gap tree down while Daniel Graham filmed him, after admissions they had both made in pre-sentence reports.
She told the defendants 'At the trial in May neither of you accepted any involvement. In recent interviews with the Probation Service, although seeking to minimise your culpability, you admitted being present and involved. The tree is one of the most famous in England, and was used as a backdrop in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Pic: joe'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.'
The pair took a wedge from the tree as a trophy that has never been recovered and revelled in the media coverage, as news of the vandalism caused national and international headlines.
The tree was a symbol of Northumberland, was the site of countless family visits and featured in the Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Adam Carruthers. Pic: Northumbria Police
Its destruction, filmed on a mobile phone, took less than three minutes.
The defendants were once close, working and socialising together, but have fallen out since their arrests and each has come to blame the other.
Graham's Range Rover was picked up on automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras between Carlisle and Sycamore Gap at night on September 27 2023, and returning early the next morning. His mobile was traced to phone masts making the same journey.
When police 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, and had been sent to Carruthers.
Messages and voice notes between Graham and Carruthers the next day showed them talking about the story going 'wild' and 'viral.'
At trial, Graham claimed Carruthers had a fascination with the sycamore, saying he had described it as 'the most famous tree in the world' and spoken of wanting to cut it down, even keeping a piece of string in his workshop that he had used to measure its circumference. Daniel Graham. Both men were sentenced to four years and three months. Pic: Northumbria Police
Carruthers denied this and told the court he could not understand the outcry over the story, saying it was 'just a tree.'
The tree and wall were owned by the National Trust and a spokesperson said 'The needless felling of the Sycamore Gap tree shocked people around the country and overseas, demonstrating the powerful connection between people and our natural heritage.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Paul Ince banned from driving and fined for drink-driving
Former footballer Paul Ince has been disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £7,085 after pleading guilty to drink-driving. The ex-England captain pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates' Court on Friday. The former Manchester United and Liverpool midfielder crashed his Range Rover into the central reservation near Neston, in Cheshire, back in June with police attending the scene and later arresting him. The crash happened near Heswall Golf Club - a location where Ince has previously posted pictures from on Instagram, reports The Mirror. District Judge Jack McGarva told Ince: 'The message has got to be if you're going to drive you don't drink at all.' At Ince arrived at court, he signed an autograph with a fan and posed for a selfie with another. Cheshire Police confirmed at the time that Ince had been bailed to appear at Chester Magistrates' Court on July 18, where he has now been banned. A spokesperson for Cheshire Police said at the time that officers "were called following reports of a collision on Chester High Road, Neston". "The incident involved a black Range Rover which had collided with the central reservation barrier," the spokesperson added. Officers attended the scene and arrested a 57-year-old man." Ince's playing career saw him run out for West Ham, United, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Wolves during a career spanning from 1986 to 2007. His most successful spell as a player came at United, where he won two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the League Cup under Sir Alex Ferguson. Ince won 53 caps for England, playing at Euro 1996, the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 and was the first black man to captain the Three Lions. After retiring, he embarked upon a career in management, which took him to Macclesfield, MK Dons, Blackburn, Notts County, Blackpool and Reading. He left his last role with the Royals in 2023 and has been without a club ever since.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Paul Ince BANNED from driving for 12 months as he pleads guilty to drink-drive offence after ‘crashing Range Rover'
FORMER England captain Paul Ince has been banned from driving after pleading guilty to a drink driving offence. The 57-year-old was arrested after a black Range Rover crashed in Cheshire on June 28 close to Heswall Golf Club . 2 Former England captain Paul Ince arrives at Chester Magistrates' Court Credit: Splash 2 The star was found guilty of a drink-driving offence Credit: PA Ince has now been disqualified from driving for 12 months at Chester Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to drink-driving. The ex-Prem star was also ordered to pay £7,085 today. A Cheshire Police statement at the time read: "At around 5pm on Saturday 28 June, police were called following reports of a collision on Chester High Road, Neston. "The incident involved a black Range Rover which had collided with the central reservation barrier. "Officers attended the scene and arrested a 57-year-old man. "Paul Ince, of Neston, has since been charged with drink driving." Ince joined in 1989 and spent six glittering years at Old Trafford as he won two Premier League titles, two FA Cup trophies and the 1992 League Cup. He was transferred to Inter Milan before returning to England to play for Liverpool. Most read in Football Further stints at Middlesbrough and Wolves followed. After successful spells in charge of Macclesfield and MK Dons, he went on to manage clubs. His last role was as manager of Reading, a post he left in 2023.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Sick killer battered my brother to death with a hammer & set him on fire, but was STILL released from jail to kill again
A COLD chill ran through Melanie Huxley's veins as she saw the message pop up on her phone - and realised her prophecy had come true. It said: "Brian Whitelock has been arrested for murder." 9 Melanie Huxley with her brothers Nicky (left) and Ryan, before Nicky was murdered by Brian Whitelock in October 2000 Credit: collect 9 Blood soaked Whitelock after he killed again. Melanie warned the Parole Board he would murder someone on his release from prison - she was proved tragically right Credit: WNS 9 Whitelock's neighbour, Wendy Buckney, was killed after taking pity on the murderer and employing him to do odd jobs around her house Credit: WNS The name triggered the most awful memories and immense anger, because Melanie knew another family would have to endure the trauma she and her loved ones had lived through. Melanie, 53, from Swansea, says: 'When I heard he had murdered again, I wasn't surprised at all, just devastated. 'I could not believe that another sister would live the same nightmare as me, thanks to this evil man – and why the Probation Service had not taken our repeated warnings about him more seriously.' Back in October 2000, Whitelock had murdered Melanie's brother Nicky Morgan, who was just 27 years old, in an unprovoked attack at Whitelock's home. It had been a horrific death, with Nicky battered with a hammer and all of his teeth knocked out. Whitelock - who had been drinking and taking diazepam - had then gone to a local garage, returning with a jerry can of petrol which he poured over Nicky and set alight. Glen, Whitelock's own brother, had been upstairs in the house and as the inferno swept through the house, died of smoke inhalation. Melanie says: "We weren't allowed to see Nicky because his body had been so badly burned, he was unrecognisable. Nicky had to be identified by his patriotic tattoos - a Welsh Dragon and a daffodil. Whitelock was arrested soon afterwards, and was convicted of Nicky's murder in July 2001, along with the manslaughter of his own brother Glen. Mum-of-two 'raped & murdered by coercive ex-fiance' at hotel after agreeing to celebrate his 60th birthday He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years, but never took any responsibility for his crimes. Melanie adds: "The loss of Nicky had broken our mother, Gaynor. "She'd already lost two husbands, one to kidney disease, aged just 27. Her second husband had fallen off a roof and been killed when my younger sister, Gemma, was just eight months old. 'Losing Nicky was just too much. 'Mum had brought four children up pretty much on her own – me and Nicky, as well as Ryan, now 49, and Gemma, now 40. "We were such a close family, we just pulled together and got through each day one at a time. "But every birthday, Christmas or celebration, we all felt the pain of Nicky not being with us." 'We warned them' A new nightmare began for the family when double-killer Whitelock was freed on licence in January 2019, after an offender assessment review concluded that the likelihood of him committing another serious offence was low. But in December 2020, his licence was revoked after he assaulted a shop worker and committed criminal damage. Whitelock was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, to run concurrently with his life sentence. Astonishingly, in less than a year, the Parole Board gave him another chance, releasing him on licence for a second time in October 2021. 9 Nicky Morgan's brutal killing crushed his mum, Gaynor, who had been widowed twice at a young age Credit: WNS 9 Whitelock also killed his own brother, Glen, who died from smoke inhalation when he set Nicky's body on fire inside the house Credit: WNS Mum-of-four and gran-of-seven Melanie says: "I begged the Parole Board not to release him, but they didn't listen to me. 'He had already broken conditions when placed in an open prison, but was caught drinking, not to mention the earlier altercation with a shop security guard. "My last words to the Parole Board were that I 100 per cent guarantee that he'll murder again and that we will be back here. 'Even his own nieces thought he was a danger. But how I wish we had been wrong.' We felt completely helpless. We repeatedly warned the Probation Service, but they did nothing Melanie Huxley Melanie's concerned family were assured that Whitelock had to follow strict conditions, including drug testing, and there were restrictions on where he could travel to. She says: "It wasn't long before we found out that he had been travelling to areas he was banned from and buying drugs. "He was seen roaming around our estate, intoxicated." When her family informed the Probation Service, they were told to call 999 if approached by Whitelock. She tells The Sun: "We felt completely helpless and totally disregarded. We repeatedly warned the Probation Service he was breaking all his conditions of bail, but they did nothing." Haunting words Then, on 23 August 2022, Melanie's worst fears became reality. Whitelock did kill again, The retired horse-riding instructor would employ him to do odd jobs in her house in Clydach, Swansea. 9 Whitelock was found outside Wendy's house, covered in blood and wearing only his pants, after the brutal attack Credit: WNS 9 Whitelock has been deemed "low risk" by the Parole Board before his release in January 2019 Credit: WNS When her sister, who knew Whitelock had been in prison but not what for, questioned whether it was sensible, Wendy told her that 'everyone deserves a second chance'. Whitelock, now 57, went on trial at Swansea Crown Court in November 2024 and Melanie's family attended. The details were harrowing, with Whitelock sexually assaulting Wendy and torturing her to death. He used a knife, a table leg and an MDF shelf in his sickening attack, beating and stabbing her. A postmortem examination found Wendy, who suffered from mobility issues in later life, had too many injuries for pathologists to count accurately and was covered in blood from head to toe. Flesh from her body was found on the walls and ceiling after the horror attack, while parts of the shelf were embedded in her shins. A 999 call from another neighbour to the scene reported that Whitelock was just in his pants and 'covered' in blood, adding: 'He said he's killed her.' Whitelock initially admitted he had not just murdered his victim but tortured her with various objects. On his arrest, But in the days afterwards, he changed his story and said he'd found Wendy injured and gone to help her, claiming to have seen 'shadowy figures' outside her flat. Whitelock represented himself during the trial, admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but denying murder. He told jurors he had no memory of the incident and was suffering from a brain injury at the time after he had slipped over while out fishing. The jury also heard that Whitelock may have been taking up to 30 street diazepam tablets and drinking a crate of lager a day, as well as smoking cannabis at the time of the murder. Neighbours had even called the police and ambulance services in the days prior due to his intoxicated state. Melanie says: "We ached for Wendy's family. Watching them go through what we had 24 years earlier." Back behind bars The jury at Swansea Crown Court saw through Whitelock's lies and took just six minutes to find him guilty of murder. After the verdict, they learned that he had killed before - not a fact they had been privy to. Det Chief Insp Matthew Davies, who led the investigation, described Whitelock as a 'monster' and said that the crime scene was one of the worst he had ever seen. Sentencing Whitelock in December 2024, Judge Mr Justice Griffiths called the murder a "frenzy of violence" and that he had known that his drug-taking sent him into rages, yet he had refused prescription alternatives offered. He said: "[Wendy] knew what you were doing to her. Her injuries included injuries to her hands while she tried to defend herself, but of course she was no match for you." "You described her as like a second mother to you. She deserved nothing but gratitude, but you brutally murdered her anyway, and you have never, ever suggested a motive." He also told Whitelock that Wendy, who had 16 devoted nieces and nephews, as well as two stepsons she remained close to after her divorce, had "a heart of gold - a person who would give you her last penny". In a victim impact statement, Wendy's sister Ann wrote: "He has not just taken one life. He has taken ours too." She also revealed that the scale of Wendy's injuries meant they were not able to visit the mortuary to say goodbye, just as Melanie's family had not. Applause broke out in the courtroom when a whole life sentence was handed down – the same as 9 Melanie believes Wendy would still be alive today if the Parole Board had heeded her warning - and the Probation Service acted on breaches of licence Credit: Collect 9 Melanie and her family at her beloved late brother Nicky's grave on what would have been his 50th birthday Credit: Collect But it's little comfort to Melanie, who says: "Wendy should still be alive. We warned them time and time again, and they didn't listen to us. 'Somebody should be held accountable. If Whitlock had been put back in prison for breaching his conditions, Wendy would be alive. It's truly unforgivable." The Parole Board said its review of the case had been completed and would not be published, but that it took such cases "extremely seriously" and was "committed to learning lessons". The A spokesperson added: "This was an appalling crime and our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Wendy Buckney."
