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Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Sycamore Gap accused has 'no clue' who felled tree
A second man accused of felling the world famous Sycamore Gap has told jurors he has "no clue" who did it. The tree had grown in a dip on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland for more than 100 years before it was felled in a "moronic mission" in the early hours of 28 September 2023, Newcastle Crown Court has heard. Daniel Michael Graham, 39, from Carlisle, and Adam Carruthers, 32, from Wigton in Cumbria, each deny two counts of criminal damage relating to the tree and the Roman Wall. Mr Carruthers told jurors he was amazed at the public's reaction as he thought it was "just a tree". Jurors were previously told the tree was a much-loved landmark and had global significance for its position on the former frontier of the Roman empire. Mr Graham's phone and Range Rover were both tracked going to and from the site while a video, which prosecutors allege show the moment the tree was felled, was filmed on his mobile, the court has heard. Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers had worked together on projects including felling trees and cutting up timber [CPS] A wedge of wood was taken as a "trophy" and photographed hours later alongside a chainsaw in the boot of Mr Graham's car, prosecutors have said. Mr Graham previously told jurors he had been asleep that night and Mr Carruthers must have taken his car and phone without his knowledge. On the sixth day of the trial, Mr Carruthers took to the witness box where he started by denying he had anything to do with felling the tree or filming it. His barrister Andrew Gurney asked why Mr Carruthers seemed so interested in the aftermath, exchanging screenshots of social media posts and press reports with his co-accused and swapping voice notes discussing it. Mr Carruthers said he just "couldn't understand" the hysteria he was seeing on Facebook and he wanted to talk about with his friend. Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers each deny two counts of criminal damage [Nick Lewis] "I didn't understand how a tree would be able to hit the headlines as much as it did," he said. "It was almost as if someone had been murdered." He was asked about a voice note in which he said an online commenter, who criticised the vandals, lacked the "minerals" to "launch an operation like we did". Mr Carruthers told jurors: "I think it's been interpreted wrong." He said he had actually meant to say "he" instead of "we," referring to whoever it was that had felled the tree although he had "no idea" who that might be. Experts say a wedge of wood came from the tree and was pictured in Daniel Graham's car [CPS] Mr Graham had also claimed Mr Carruthers was fascinated with the tree, treasured a piece of string he had used to measure its circumference and had "mentioned" cutting it down, then admitted he had done so in a call to Mr Graham the morning after and later asked his friend to "take the blame". Mr Carruthers told jurors none of that was true. He also told the court he had used a chainsaw to trim trees but never to fell one. Adam Carruthers has been giving evidence to jurors [CPS] In cross-examination, prosecutor Richard Wright KC asked Mr Carruthers who felled the tree. Mr Carruthers replied he had "no clue at all", adding: "It wasn't me." He said he thought it was "just a tree" but then, the morning after it was felled, started seeing news reports and public comments appearing "more and more" on social media. The prosecutor suggested that was what was at the "heart" of the case. "You thought 'it's just a tree'. "When the rest of the world didn't think it was just a tree, that it was a terrible and wicked thing to have done, you have lost your bottle and can't own up to it?" Mr Carruthers replied: "That's not true." The tree was planted on Hadrian's Wall in the 1800s [PA Media] He was asked about mobile phone tracking data which showed him travelling to a spot about four miles way from the tree the afternoon before it was felled. Mr Graham's legal team suggested he was "doing a reconnoitre" of the tree, but Mr Carruthers claimed he was taking his partner and their new-born daughter on an impromptu excursion to the Metrocentre for food, turning around when the baby would not settle. Mr Wright asked if there were not restaurants in Carlisle they could have visited rather than make a three-hour round trip on an afternoon when storms were forecast to hit the area. Mr Carruthers replied the restaurants in Carlisle were "not the best" and the Metrocentre would be better. The trial continues. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here. Related internet links More on this story
The Independent
02-05-2025
- The Independent
Sycamore Gap accused thought world-famous tree would be ‘good trophy,' jury told
One of two former friends on trial for cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree had a 'fascination' with the tree and thought it would be 'a good trophy,' his co-accused has told a court. Daniel Graham said Adam Carruthers had spoken of wanting to cut down the much-loved tree beside Hadrian's Wall, keeping a piece of string in his workshop he had used to measure its circumference, and ordering a chainsaw he said was 'big enough' for the job. Graham also told Newcastle Crown Court his co-defendant rang him the morning after the tree was felled and claimed to be the one responsible. He said Carruthers asked him to take the blame for the crime 'because he had mental health issues' and would be treated more leniently. Prosecutors say groundworker Graham, 39, and mechanic Carruthers, 32, drove from Carlisle overnight during Storm Agnes to the Northumberland landmark in September 2023. The pair each deny two counts of criminal damage to the sycamore and to the Roman Wall. The court has heard they sometimes worked together and had experience felling large trees. On the fourth day of the trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Graham was asked about a call Carruthers made to him in the morning on September 28 2023. He said: 'It was Adam claiming he had cut down the Sycamore Gap tree, claiming that it was him that cut it down. 'I told him he was talking shite, I didn't believe it.' Graham said Carruthers had spoken of wanting to cut down the tree in the past. 'He mentioned it,' he told the court. 'He mentioned a lot of things. I didn't take it seriously.' Graham said he remembered Carruthers ordering a big bar chainsaw and saying it was big enough to cover the circumference of the Sycamore Gap tree. He also said Carruthers had mentioned the tree in 2021 while they worked on his father's Land Rover. Graham said he wanted to use a piece of string on the job, but Carruthers said he could not as it was 'sentimental'. 'He laid this string on the floor, put it in a big circle, that was the circumference of the Sycamore Gap tree,' Graham told jurors. 'At the time I didn't know of the tree… He told me it was the most famous tree in the world.' Graham said Carruthers had used the string to measure the tree's circumference. Graham agreed with prosecutor Richard Wright KC that Carruthers had a 'fascination' with and 'strange interest' in the Sycamore Gap tree. Mr Wright said: 'He talked about it in the sense of, it would be a good trophy.' Graham replied: 'I suppose so, yeah.' Mr Wright asked Graham if his claim that he did not know about the tree until Carruthers told him about it in 2021 was a lie, as he had reported a car being stolen from the Steel Rigg car park – used by visitors to Sycamore Gap – in 2020. Graham said: 'Just because I know about the car park, doesn't mean I know about the tree.' Asked if he had watched the film featuring the tree, Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, he replied: 'I've watched Robin Hood but it doesn't mean I know where that tree is. 'The first time this legendary tree was mentioned to me was in 2021. I wasn't interested in it. I cut trees down, I don't collect them.' Graham told the court that after he and Carruthers had been interviewed by police, Carruthers and a friend called Lindsay Dalgleish came to his home and stood on his driveway. Asked what they discussed, Graham said: 'If it gets on top, would I take the blame, because I have mental health issues. Apparently they would be more lenient with me.' Graham said he was not keen to take the blame and said no. He said he was not the one using his Range Rover or mobile phone on the night the tree was cut down, when both have been traced to Sycamore Gap. Graham told the court he first realised his Range Rover had been taken out that night when he saw it had been moved the next morning. He said it was not unusual for him to leave his phone in the vehicle overnight because he 'liked to get away from his phone' after a day at work. Graham said he and Carruthers were 'best of pals' in September 2023 and that Carruthers 'wouldn't need to ask to borrow anything of mine'. He told the jury other people were able to use his iPhone, including people who worked for him who used it to connect to the internet via a hot spot. Earlier, jurors were told that Graham made an anonymous call to the emergency services' 101 number on August 23 last year and named Carruthers as being responsible for the crime. Graham said they had been friends for about three years but he turned on Carruthers when the Sycamore Gap investigation started affecting his business. He told the court: 'It's my name all the time, my name before Adam's. It was always my name associated with it first. 'My name is associated with my business and I started to have people phoning my business giving me abuse about the tree.' The trial was told how the police investigation into the damage included people who had issues with the National Trust, and even a young boy who reported his brother. Mr Meikle said he looked into the claims about Mr Dalgleish, who has been named by Graham as a suspect during the trial, but was 'satisfied that he wasn't involved'. The trial continues.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Sycamore Gap: Man says friend wanted to cut down world's 'most famous tree'
One of two men on trial for cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree told a court his co-defendant had wanted to cut down the "most famous tree in the world". Daniel Graham, 39, said Adam Carruthers, 32, rang him the morning after to claim responsibility for felling the tree beside Hadrian's Wall. He said Carruthers had asked him to take the blame "because he had mental health issues", believing he would be treated more leniently. The prosecution allege that Graham and Carruthers drove from Carlisle to the Northumberland landmark in September 2023 during Storm Agnes. Both men deny two counts of criminal damage to the sycamore and to the Roman Wall. On the fourth day of the trial, Graham was asked about a call Carruthers made to him on the morning of 28 September 2023. "It was Adam claiming he had cut down the Sycamore Gap tree, claiming that it was him that cut it down," he said. "I told him he was talking shite, I didn't believe it." While Graham said his former friend had spoken of wanting to cut down the tree in the past, he "didn't take it seriously". "At the time I didn't know of the tree … He told me it was the most famous tree in the world." He told Newcastle Crown Court that he remembered Carruthers ordering a chainsaw and saying it was big enough to cover the Sycamore Gap's circumference. Defence barrister Chris Knox said two people had been involved on the night in question, one feling the tree and the other filming. But while Graham said that Carruthers felled the tree, he "[didn't] know 100% who the other person was". Speaking from the witness box, Graham said he was not the one using his Range Rover or mobile phone on the night the tree was cut down, which were both traced to the tree's location. At the time, the pair were the "best of pals", according to Graham. When questioned by Mr Knox on whether Carruthers had asked to borrow his Range Rover, he added: "Adam wouldn't need to ask to borrow anything of mine. He was welcome to it." Read more from Sky News: Jurors have been told that an anonymous call was made to the emergency services on 23 August last year, by a man believed to be Graham, in which Carruthers was named as being responsible for felling the Sycamore Gap. The trial continues.
Sky News
02-05-2025
- Sky News
Sycamore Gap: Man says friend wanted to cut down world's 'most famous tree'
Why you can trust Sky News One of two men on trial for cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree told a court his co-defendant had wanted to cut down the "most famous tree in the world". Daniel Graham, 39, said Adam Carruthers, 32, rang him the morning after to claim responsibility for felling the tree beside Hadrian's Wall. He said Carruthers had asked him to take the blame "because he had mental health issues", believing he would be treated more leniently. The prosecution allege that Graham and Carruthers drove from Carlisle to the Northumberland landmark in September 2023 during Storm Agnes. Both men deny two counts of criminal damage to the sycamore and to the Roman Wall. On the fourth day of the trial, Graham was asked about a call Carruthers made to him on the morning of 28 September 2023. "It was Adam claiming he had cut down the Sycamore Gap tree, claiming that it was him that cut it down," he said. "I told him he was talking shite, I didn't believe it." While Graham said his former friend had spoken of wanting to cut down the tree in the past, he "didn't take it seriously". "At the time I didn't know of the tree … He told me it was the most famous tree in the world." He told Newcastle Crown Court that he remembered Carruthers ordering a chainsaw and saying it was big enough to cover the Sycamore Gap's circumference. Defence barrister Chris Knox said two people had been involved on the night in question, one feling the tree and the other filming. But while Graham said that Carruthers felled the tree, he "[didn't] know 100% who the other person was". Speaking from the witness box, Graham said he was not the one using his Range Rover or mobile phone on the night the tree was cut down, which were both traced to the tree's location. At the time, the pair were the "best of pals", according to Graham. When questioned by Mr Knox on whether Carruthers had asked to borrow his Range Rover, he added: "Adam wouldn't need to ask to borrow anything of mine. He was welcome to it." Jurors have been told that an anonymous call was made to the emergency services on 23 August last year, by a man believed to be Graham, in which Carruthers was named as being responsible for felling the Sycamore Gap. The trial continues.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Sycamore Gap accused claims 'best pal' did it
One of the men who denies cutting down the world famous Sycamore Gap tree has told jurors his co-accused "best pal" admitted doing it. The tree had grown in a dip on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland for more than 100 years before it was felled in a "moronic mission" in the early hours of 28 September 2023, Newcastle Crown Court has heard. Daniel Michael Graham, 39, from Carlisle, and Adam Carruthers, 32, from Wigton in Cumbria, each deny two counts of criminal damage relating to the tree and the Roman Wall. Mr Graham claimed Mr Carruthers had previously "mentioned" cutting the tree down and the morning after it was felled, admitted he did it. Jurors were previously told the tree was a much-loved landmark and had global significance for its position on the former frontier of the Roman empire. Live coverage of the trial Mr Graham's phone and Range Rover were both tracked going to and from the site while a video, which prosecutors allege show the moment the tree was felled, was filmed on his mobile, the court has heard. A wedge of wood was taken as a "trophy" and photographed hours later alongside a chainsaw in the booth of Mr Graham's car, prosecutors have said. On the fourth day of the trial, Mr Graham told jurors he had nothing to do with felling the tree or damaging the Roman wall, a couple of stones of which were fractured when the sycamore toppled on to them. He said other people often used his car, and his iPhone 13 must have been left in it when someone drove it on 27 September. Mr Graham said he and his co-accused were the "best of pals" in September 2023, with Mr Carruthers often working for his groundworks firm with tasks including felling trees. He claimed Mr Carruthers showed him a piece of string in 2021 which the younger man said he had used to measure the circumference of the "most famous tree in the world", jurors heard. Mr Graham also said Mr Carruthers had "mentioned" chopping the tree down when he bought a chainsaw with a bar "big enough to cover the circumference of the tree". The morning after the felling, Mr Graham claimed Mr Carruthers called him on WhatsApp to say he had cut down the tree, but Mr Graham did not believe him. Some time afterwards, Mr Graham said Mr Carruthers visited him one night and, when discussion turned to the tree, his co-accused asked him to "take the blame". Mr Graham claimed he was told the police would be "more lenient" on him as he had mental health issues and he would "get away with it", but Mr Graham refused to do as Mr Carruthers asked. In cross-examination, Mr Carruthers' barrister Andrew Gurney suggested Mr Graham's claims were "not true" and a "complete fabrication". Mr Graham replied they were "110% true" and Mr Gurney was paid to portray him as a liar. Asked when he decided to turn on his good friend Mr Carruthers, Mr Graham said it was when the accusations started to harm his business. Prosecutor Richard Wright KC asked Mr Graham why someone would have taken his Range Rover for the job, with Mr Graham saying it was because it was a "4x4". He said his co-accused had access to his phone and car and was "capable" of felling the tree. Mr Graham said he had been asleep the whole night in his caravan. Mr Wright asked why his "large and vocal" dog, which would surely have gone "berserk" if anyone entered his yard and took a vehicle, did not bark and wake him. Mr Graham said it was a windy and noisy night so the dog may not have heard anything, besides which it would not have barked if it heard Mr Carruthers because it would have recognised his voice. Mr Graham also said he had not heard of the tree until Mr Carruthers mentioned it in 2021. Mr Wright challenged Mr Graham, saying he had reported a car stolen from Steel Rigg, the nearest car park to the tree, in December 2020. Mr Graham said he had parked at the car park to go for a walk with his dogs but did not know about the tree, and while he had seen the 1992 movie Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves in which the tree appears, he did not know where it had been filmed. Earlier on Friday, the trial heard a man made an anonymous call to Northumbria Police in August 2024 to say Mr Carruthers cut the tree down and had the wedge of wood taken from it. Det Insp Calum Meikle said he immediately recognised the voice of the caller to be Mr Graham, with investigations revealing Mr Graham's phone had called the police's 101 number at that exact time. The officer agreed with Mr Carruthers' barrister Andrew Gurney that there was "no uncertainty" the call had been made by Mr Graham. Mr Graham admitted he made the call and said police were not doing a good job of catching the real people responsible. The trial continues. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here. HM Courts and Tribunals Service Sycamore Gap accused blamed pal in call, jury told Video shows felling of much-loved tree, jury told Sycamore Gap accused kept trophy of tree, jury told Sycamore Gap jury told to 'set emotion aside'
