'I was accused of felling Sycamore Gap tree and wore wig as disguise in public'
A former lumberjack has spoken of his ordeal after he was falsely blamed for felling the Sycamore Gap - and wore a Rod Stewart wig to hide his identity. Walter Renwick, 70, found himself at the centre of fake claims and abuse when the iconic tree was felled on September 28, 2023.
He was arrested along with a teenager who was suspected of being involved in the crime which sent shockwaves around the globe. He has spoken of being the focus of a hate campaign as Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, who really chopped down the tree, face sentencing at Newcastle crown court this week.
He recalled: "It was heartbreaking. There were police everywhere, drones flying around the valley, divers in the lake, they were 100 per cent certain I'd done it.
"Every time I went shopping in Haltwhistle or Hexham, people were nudging each other and saying 'that's him that cut the tree down'."
The pensioner, who lived close to Hadrian's Wall, not far from where the tree stood, resorted to a disguise to hide his identity. "I know it was daft but I put a Rod Stewart wig on so people didn't spot me," he added.
He had been evicted from Plankey Mill Farm near Bardon Mill, Northumberland, by landowners Jesuits in Britain. His family had been living there for decades; a tenancy held by his grandfather and father had not passed to him. The National Trust were said to be one of the bodies who complained about his behaviour after he set up a campsite on the land.
And that was wrongly believed to have been part of his motive. His land and property were searched by Northumbria Police officers looking for clues shortly after the tree was felled.
The act of vandalism sparked outrage and condemnation from nature lovers around the world. The force said it recognised the "strength of feeling that the felling had caused".
But stressed that it had carried out a "a meticulous and proportionate investigation". The "unwavering commitment" of the officers involved in the case had led to a successful prosecution, a spokesperson added.
A jury at Newcastle Crown Court unanimously convicted Graham and Carruthers of two counts of criminal damage in May.
"I just keep asking myself why they did it," Mr Renwick told the BBC. "Was it just attention seeking?
"I don't know what it was but, for me at least, it's over. Actually, you know, the tree, that was one thing... But losing my farm. That was the thing that hurt most of all."
Jesuits in Britain said Mr Renwick's father "gave up" the tenancy in 2008 and Mr Renwick did not meet the legal criteria to succeed his dad. He was offered a 10-year lease which was extended twice, "well beyond any legal obligation" on their part.
Mr Renwick was "fully aware" of options available and he was given "multiple opportunities to discuss alternative arrangements". A spokesman added: "Throughout we have sought to act with kindness and integrity. We sincerely wish him well as he moves forward."
Graham, 39, of Millbeck, near Carlisle, and Carruthers, 32, of Church Street, Wigton, both Cumbria, each denied causing £622,191 worth of criminal damage to the tree and damage to Hadrian's Wall, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Both belong to the National Trust.
The maximum sentence for criminal damage is 10 years. Both men are due to be sentenced on July 15 at Newcastle crown court.
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Even crisps were banned because they were seen as 'inviting the devil in' COMMUNE CULT I was beaten with a stick from age 2 on Jesus Army farm where paedo 'prophets' abused kids & 'deserters' turned up dead Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TO casual visitors the Jesus Army's communal farms in a quiet Northamptonshire village appeared idyllic. Children played in the fields, picked fresh fruit and did not face the pressures of the modern world. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 12 Nathan was born into the Jesus Army and sexually abused by a 'man in his 40s' from the age of ten Credit: BBC 12 New Creation Farm, where preacher Noel Stanton lived Credit: Jesus Fellowship Central Offices/Youtube 12 Noel Stanton founded the Jesus Fellowship Church in 1973 12 Founder Stanton, who died in 2009 aged 82, was among the powerful men accused of assaulting the flock Credit: BBC But for the kids who grew up in rural Bugbrooke under the terrifying regime of wild-haired preacher Noel Stanton, it was a nightmare. Children weren't allowed toys, crisps, television, radio, hobbies, sugar or even to visit museums. A new BBC documentary titled The Rise and Fall of the Jesus Army reveals how children were beaten on a daily basis if they broke these rules and told they were 'possessed'. Even worse was the sexual abuse in a Christian community that was supposed to value celibacy. The controversial church, which began life as the Jesus Fellowship in 1973, closed its doors for good in May 2019 following over 600 allegations of abuse. Founder Stanton, who died in 2009 aged 82, was among the powerful men accused of assaulting the flock. Breaking the spell Stanton's cult had over them is difficult. Nathan, 38, who was born into the Jesus Army and sexually abused by a 'man in his 40s' from the age of ten, says that Noel is 'still someone I respect". He explains: 'It was my whole life basically. I would spend hours with Noel shouting at us that you would go to Hell for stupid little things you did as a kid.' Stanton, originally from Bedfordshire, ran a stationery business before becoming pastor of the Baptist church in Bugbrooke in 1957. I was trapped in a cult & forced to give all my money to leaders who made me unwell with their 'cruelty' Over the following decade he attracted increasingly 'unorthodox individuals' to his evangelistic sermons. Earlier follower John says: 'He claimed he was a prophet speaking God's will.' Fervent believers would speak in tongues and think they had been touched by Jesus. The congregation were expected to be totally devoted to the Jesus Fellowship. John continues: 'It wasn't just a case of just going to church, it was a case of belonging to the church.' 'Extreme and dangerous' 12 Earlier follower John says Stanton claimed he was a prophet speaking God's will Credit: BBC 12 Philippa Barnes says children were tightly overseen by Stanton and didn't have time with their mums Credit: BBC 12 The congregation were expected to be totally devoted to the Jesus Fellowship. Pictured: Bugbrooke chapel Credit: Alamy That devotion went further in 1974 when New Creation Hall and New Creation Farm were opened. Stanton's disciples sold their home and all their worldly goods to buy these properties, which they didn't own. The homes would be shared by any of the followers living there. Magsy, who was brought up in nearby Upper Stowe, recalls: 'We were playing in the fields and picking fruit. It was beautiful.' But Philippa Barnes, who was aged seven when she moved there, could sense something was wrong. She says: 'We were very tightly overseen by Noel. You didn't have time with your mum. It was extreme. It was dangerous.' There were no crisps, no worldly things because that was inviting the devil in Magsy Families were split up, with some children placed with strangers and married couples slept in separate beds. The women were separated from the men, who were in control of the community. Elders, who were always male, were expected to enforce the rules. Magsy recalls: 'There were no crisps, no worldly things because that was inviting the devil in.' In the evening Noel and other elders would purge people of their 'sins' as they writhed about on the floor convulsing like something out of The Exorcist movie. Magsy continues: 'There would be people who looked possessed, people laying hands on them, Noel crying out 'the devil'.' Suspicious deaths 12 Magsy was beaten with a stick from the age of two Credit: BBC This remained hidden from the outside world until Stephen Orchard, 19, died in suspicious circumstances in 1978 after leaving the 'cult'. His injuries suggested he had lain on a railway track in the path of a train less than a mile from Bugbrooke, but the coroner recorded an open verdict. Stephen wasn't the only one. Eighteen months earlier David Hooper, 24, had died from exposure to freezing temperatures at the farm after being outside partially clothed in early December 1976. Then in 1986, Jesus Army member Mohammed Majid was found floating in an underground water tank on the grounds. There would be people who looked possessed, people laying hands on them, Noel crying out 'the devil' Magsy The publicity around Stephen's death did nothing to quell interest in this new way of life. By 1980 their communes had over 430 residents and were running a string of businesses, including a hotel and health food shops. With followers working for the love of the religion, the coffers swelled. For the children who could not escape, it was a brutal upbringing with regular punishment beatings. Magsy, who was beaten with a stick from the age of two, says: 'I was rodded every day. The brothers decided if you were defiant.' Sexual abuse 12 Sarah recalls how brazen one senior member of the church was, putting his hand on her leg while his wife was across the room Credit: BBC 12 When the Jesus Fellowship was thrown out of the Baptist Union and the Evangelical Alliance in 1986, Stanton launched the Jesus Army in 1987 in a bid to bring in fresh converts Credit: BBC 12 Church members were sent out into cities such as London to find waifs and strays in need of a bed Credit: Alamy 12 The Jesus Army held raves in warehouses, with people singing 'we are generation J' and talking about getting a 'natural high' from God Credit: BBC John was the first of the disgruntled grown-ups to leave and to go public with his concerns. As a result the Jesus Fellowship was thrown out of the Baptist Union and the Evangelical Alliance in 1986. Unperturbed, Stanton launched the Jesus Army the following year in a bid to bring in fresh converts. Church members were sent out into cities such as London to find waifs and strays in need of a bed. They opened up a Battle Centre in the capital and more communities in places such as Sheffield. Next up were raves in warehouses, with people singing 'we are generation J' and talking about getting a 'natural high' from God. But word got around paedophiles that the Jesus Army offered easy access to young children. And the elders failed to crack down on reports of sexual abuse. I was rodded every day. The brothers decided if you were defiant Magsy Sarah recalls how brazen one senior member of the church was. She says: 'He would put his hand on my thigh under the table while his wife was across the room. He just shut me down.' When Philippa told the police that a Jesus Army member had sexually assaulted one of her friends he was sentenced to six months in prison. But he only served half of that time inside and was welcomed back as leader. After Noel died the new leaders introduced safeguarding training and safeguarding officers. The damage, though, had been done. An investigation by Northamptonshire Police titled Operation Lifeboat uncovered 214 allegations of abuse. Only five of the abusers were prosecuted and only two of them received custodial sentences, the longest being Nigel Perkins and Alan Carter, who received three year jail terms in 2017 and 2018 respectively. DC Mark Allbright explains: 'It was difficult, there was closing of ranks.' An independent review in 2017 carried on behalf of the Jesus Army found that Stanton had abused boys and that the leaders had failed to act. Facing hundreds of compensation claims the church closed two years later. Those cases are ongoing and many more victims are yet to come forward, with one in six children in the Jesus Army believed to have experienced abuse. The Jesus Fellowship said: 'We continue to hold out an unreserved apology to anyone who has been affected by abuse and failings of any kind in the Jesus Fellowship. 'In 2013 we, as the senior leadership of the church, initiated a wide-ranging process that invited disclosures of any kind of abuse, both historic and recent, and referred all such reports to the authorities.' The Rise and Fall of the Jesus Army airs on BBC2 on Sunday July 27.
