Latest news with #Renwick
Extra.ie
14-07-2025
- Extra.ie
Man wrongly accused of felling Sycamore Gap tree wore 'Rod Stewart wig' to avoid abuse
A man falsely accused of cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree says he resorted to wearing a Rod Stewart-style wig in public to avoid harassment. Walter Renwick, a 69-year-old lumberjack, was arrested the day after the famous tree was felled in September 2023. Although he was released without charge by December, public suspicion has continued to follow him. The much-loved 70ft sycamore, featured in the 1991 Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, stood in a picturesque dip along Hadrian's Wall and was considered one of the UK's most iconic trees. Walter Renwick. Pic: BBC Its dramatic overnight destruction sparked outrage. Two men – Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, both from Cumbria – were later found guilty of criminal damage by a unanimous jury at Newcastle Crown Court in May. A judge described the pair as 'moronic' for their actions. Daniel Graham. Pic: Northumbria Police Despite being cleared, Mr Renwick has struggled with the lingering effects of the accusation. Speaking to the BBC this week, he described the emotional toll of the police search at his Northumberland home: 'There were police everywhere, drones flying around the valley, divers in the lake – they were 100% certain I'd done it,' he recalled. 'Every time I went shopping, people were nudging each other and saying 'that's him that cut the tree down', stuff like that. Adam Carruthers. Pic: Northumbria Police 'I know it was daft but I put a Rod Stewart wig on so people didn't spot me.' Months before the tree was felled, Mr Renwick had been evicted from Plankey Mill Farm – land that had been in his family for generations. Though he had no legal claim to the tenancy, online speculation falsely linked his eviction to a possible motive for the felling. 'I'd just lost everything I had — my cows, my sheep, my parents' stuff. I'd lost my home, and then this,' he said. Reflecting on the outcome of the trial, Mr Renwick said: 'I just keep asking myself why they did it. 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.'
Metro
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Man wrongly accused of felling Sycamore Gap tree 'wears Rod Stewart wig' to hide
A man who was arrested over the felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree says he's taken unusual measures to avoid public abuse. Walter Renwick, a lumberjack, was arrested the day after the popular tree was felled in September 2023. The 70ft tree – which featured in 1991 Kevin Costner movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves – sat in a gap in Hadrian's Wall and was one of the most beloved trees in the UK. But it was chopped down in the middle of the night. Two friends, called 'moronic' by a judge, have been found guilty of criminal damage over the felling. Mr Renwick, 69, was released without charge by December 2023. He spoke out at the time, saying he was not 'stupid' enough to cut down the tree – but it public outcry against the tree felling means Mr Renwick is still associated with the Sycamore Gap. Speaking to the BBC yesterday, he described his home in Northumberland being searched as 'heartbreaking' and said he would be pointed out in the street. Mr Renwick of the police searches: 'There were police everywhere, drones flying around the valley, divers in the lake, they were 100% 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', stuff like that. 'I know it was daft but I put a Rod Stewart wig on so people didn't spot me.' Months before the Sycamore Gap tree was felled, Mr Renwick had been evicted from Plankey Mill Farm near Bardon Mill, just a few miles from Hadrian's Wall. The tenancy held by his grandfather and father had not passed to him – and this led to online sleuths suggesting the eviction was his motivation for chopping down the tree. 'I'd just lost everything I had, my cows, my sheep, my parents' stuff. I'd lost my home and then this,' Mr Renwick said. Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, both from Cumbria, were both found guilty by an unanimous jury of criminal damage at Newcastle crown court in May. More Trending Discussing the true culprits, Mr Renwick said: 'I just keep asking myself why they did it. '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.' Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: Dad given quad bike trip over 'smelly' room suing Tui for £500,000 after crashing MORE: Paedophile who raped a six-year-old girl to be surgically castrated MORE: Mum spared jail after hiding bodies of two stillborn babies at home for years
Daily Mirror
13-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I was accused of felling Sycamore Gap tree and wore wig as disguise in public'
Walter Renwick, 70, found himself at the centre of fake claims and abuse when the Sycamore Gap tree was felled - he was arrested along with a boy, 16, but both were cleared of any wrongdoing 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.
RNZ News
27-06-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Weather live: Severe weather lashes parts of North Island, flooding, state of emergency in South Island regions
Marlborough Emergency Management has issued a 'be ready to evacuate' warning for residents in the Lower Terrace area in Renwick. The council's hydrology team had been modelling on a stopbank at the confluence of the Waihopai/Wairau rivers and determined the bank had become unstable, Incident Controller Richard MacNamara said. This poses a risk of breaking and flooding lower parts of Renwick township (Lower Terrace) and surrounding land adjacent to Gibson's Creek and up to the Waihopai/Wairau confluence. "We are taking the precaution of advising residents of Lower Terrace to be prepared to evacuate," MacNamara said, adding that the Defence Force, FENZ and Marlborough's Rapid Response team would be door knocking in the area. Meanwhile, a "significant number" of people in Nelson have chosen to evacuate, according to Nelson Tasman Civil Defence. "While we did assist some people from their homes there have been a significant number of people who have felt uncomfortable enough that they've self-evacuated," information manager Paul Shattock said. Smaller rivers were a major area of concern. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. Photo: Kate Green
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
2 charged with murder following March shooting in Wilmington's Southbridge neighborhood
Two men have been charged with murder following the March 28 shooting of a 24-year-old man in Wilmington's Southbridge neighborhood. Quadre Wright, 20, and 18-year-old Amir Morris, were also charged with gun offenses, robbery and conspiracy in the fatal shooting, which killed Santee Renwick, police said on May 30. The shooting occurred in the 200 block of Bradford St. just after 2:30 p.m. That's where responding officers found Renwick critically injured. He later died at a local hospital, police said. BACKGROUND: Police ID man killed in Wilmington's Southbridge neighborhood Friday afternoon Renwick's killing came less than a day after a 42-year-old man was shot in Southbridge. That shooting occurred about two blocks away, in the 200 block of S. Heald St. Police said the man survived. Officers arrested Wright on April 17. Morris was already being held in prison for an "unrelated matter," police said. A New Castle County grand jury indicted him on May 27. Both men are being held in prison. Wright was given $2 million cash bail, while Morris was given $1 million. Got a tip? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@ For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: March shooting in Wilmington's Southbridge: 2 charged with murder
