Latest news with #chainsaw
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Man, 80, attacked with chainsaw in row over tractor sale
A chainsaw-wielding attacker injured an 80-year-old man in a grievance over the sale of a tractor, a court has Sandilands - known as Donna - threatened to kill Alexander McTavish during the attack in February if money was not police were called to the scene in Kinross and found Sandilands with the chainsaw still running, but it was dropped when an officer drew his 47-year-old admitted the attack and was remanded in custody for sentencing at the High Court in Dundee next month. Mr McTavish lost the use of two fingers as a result of the High Court in Edinburgh heard that Sandilands told police: "If I wanted to kill him, I would've killed him." Advocate depute Ruaraidh Ferguson told the court that Mr McTavish knew Sandiland's father and had sold him a tractor for £3,500The prosecutor said Sandilands believed there were various issues with the tractor and talks were taking place over a refund of the money 'Hanging by the bone' The court heard that Sandilands drove through Mr McTavish's garden gate and wielded a chainsaw at the pensioner, demanding money or he would be McTavish went back into the living room but left glass doors partially open to try to talk to Sandilands. Sandilands put the chainsaw through a gap between and broke the door glass prosecutor said: "Mr McTavish attempted to close the doors on the chainsaw. "As he did so the accused pushed the chainsaw through the gap, striking the complainer on the left hip and the left hand. He said that the assault victim described his fingers as "hanging on by the bone" after he was McTavish fled from the house with Sandilands in pursuit before police arrived and officers ordered the chainsaw to be court heard that Sandilands previously worked as a mechanic, but suffered brain damage after being struck by a tree.
BBC News
19-07-2025
- BBC News
Sycamore Gap prosecutor shares his story of the trial
The trial of the two men who felled the Sycamore Gap tree garnered global attention. What was it like for the prosecutor at the heart of the case? It felt like a murder trial. Day after day we heard of phones and cars being tracked, gloating messages swapped by the culprits in the aftermath and emotional statements about the devastation they had in this case, the weapon was a chainsaw and the victim was a tree. Richard Wright KC has worked on more than 100 murder cases in his 27 years as a an exclusive interview with the BBC, the prosecutor says the interest in trial of Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers was on a scale he had never encountered before."It was the public expectation," he says, "the pressure of getting the right result.""The evidence was overwhelming so, in cases like that, if you don't get a conviction, something's gone badly wrong." The jury retired on a Thursday, spending four and a half hours out in discussions before being sent home for the day, eventually returning with guilty verdicts the following morning."I was climbing the walls," Mr Wright says of the wait."You start thinking 'Oh my God, could I have done it differently, what if I've got it wrong?'"He didn't - the jury agreed the evidence was overwhelming. During his opening speech, the video of the tree being cut down was shown for the first time. When the two-and-a-half minute long clip, filmed on Graham's phone, finished you could have heard a pin drop in Newcastle Crown Court's courtroom one."Some people might say it was 'just a tree', but the senseless nature of it was quite emotional," Mr Wright recalls. "It did have a greater power when it was presented in court than I thought it would. "Everybody was stunned in to silence. "I felt the same." The video wasn't the only piece of evidence that helped convict Graham, 39, and Carruthers, 32, who had travelled from their homes in Cumbria to fell the tree on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland in the early hours of 28 September news of the tree's felling rapidly spread, Graham and Carruthers were sending each other screenshots of news reports and outraged social media responses to what they had done."I couldn't believe they had recorded the video in the first place," Mr Wright says. "Equally, I thought their conversations the next day were significant, which frankly only the people who'd cut down the tree could be having." They described it as their "operation", talked about how good the cut had been and were getting palpable excitement from the fury."It was one of those cases where you had your absolute dream tick list of every single thing you'd want to prove a criminal offence," Mr Wright says."Admissions after the fact, evidence of them actually committing the crime, cell site and other circumstantial evidence. "The police did an excellent job." During the trial, Mr Wright described the pair as "the odd couple", best friends before falling out spectacularly as the public revulsion at their actions became clear to them."They were certainly unconventional," Mr Wright says."I thought the relationship between them was very strange, they'd had an intense friendship and now they were absolutely daggers drawn."In court, there were also heated exchanges between Mr Wright and Graham. During cross examination, the defendant raised his voice to the prosecutor and said "I've had enough of you calling me a liar. You're trying to wind us up." Was that what Mr Wright was trying to do? "I thought to myself he was trying to make the jury think I was bullying him and being unfair," Mr Wright responds, adding: "I've had worse." The question of "why" has been the big one for this case, what was the motive for what Mr Wright described to jurors as a "moronic mission".After being convicted, Carruthers went from denying any involvement to admitting being a part of it and attributing it to "drunken stupidity".Jailing them for four years and three months each, Mrs Justice Lambert gave that claim short had done too good a job for it to have been done while drunk, the judge said, adding "sheer bravado" and "thrill-seeking" were driving factors. Mr Wright has another theory, relating to the pair taking away the wedge of tree they had cut out and Carruthers having a newborn baby."I really do think the motive was to get some sort of trophy to celebrate the birth of Carruthers' child," the prosecutor says."I think it was probably something as pathetic as that." Does he think the wedge, which was photographed later that night in the boot of Graham's Range Rover, will ever be found?"I doubt it," Mr Wright says. "I think they would have got rid of it."Since the sentencing, the barrister has already been on two murder cases and spent time sitting as a judge, but he is very aware his name is still attached to the Sycamore Gap case."It's certainly a case I will never forget," Mr Wright says. "As a barrister you like to be anonymous. You go and you do your job, you don't really want to be in the public eye so I was quite pleased when it was over."As he moves on to his next cases, the men he prosecuted have been beginning their prison did he think of the sentence? "As far as I could tell, 50% of the public think it was too long and 50% think it was too short," Mr Wright says. "So that tells me it's about right." Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Guardian
15-07-2025
- The Guardian
Two men behind ‘senseless' felling of Sycamore Gap tree jailed for more than four years
Two men who carried out a 'moronic mission' to fell one of the most loved and photographed trees in the UK have been jailed. Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were each given prison sentences of four years and three months for an act of criminal damage that caused the Sycamore Gap tree to crash down on to Hadrian's wall in Northumberland on a stormy September night in 2023. The attack, using a chainsaw in the middle of the night, was met with sadness, disbelief and anger that rippled around the world. Sentencing the men at Newcastle crown court, Mrs Justice Lambert said the motive remained unclear but she rejected a claim by Carruthers that he was drunk. The judge said Carruthers cut down the tree with a chainsaw while Graham filmed him, suggesting that 'sheer bravado' and 'some sort of thrill' were likely factors. The sycamore was probably planted in the late 19th century and in recent decades the site was known as a beauty spot where people went to picnic, celebrate birthdays, propose marriage, spread ashes or just take photos. Graham, from Carlisle, and Carruthers, from Wigton, were found guilty in May of the criminal damage of the tree and the wall beside it, a Unesco world heritage site. They had denied the offence even though there was evidence that Graham's car had been used to drive to the beauty spot with a chainsaw in the boot. During an eight-day trial, the jury watched footage from Graham's phone of the tree being felled and heard messages between the pair that the prosecution said showed them revelling in the infamy. The prosecutor, Richard Wright KC, said during the trial that the crime was a 'moronic mission' and the 'arboreal equivalent of mindless thuggery', and that the two men showed a 'basic lack of decency and courage to own up to what they did'. At the sentencing on Tuesday, the court heard a victim impact statement from Andrew Poad, general manager for the National Trust of the Sycamore Gap site. Read by a barrister, the statement described the public response to the felling as 'unprecedented', adding that 'an overwhelming sense of loss and confusion' had been felt around the world. 'The question was why anyone would do this to such a beautiful tree in such a special place. It was beyond comprehension,' he said. 'This iconic tree can never be replaced. It belonged to the people. It was a totemic symbol.' Carruthers' barrister, Andrew Gurney, said his client would have to 'bear the burden of what he had done for the rest of his life'. 'He is a man of previous good character,' Gurney said. 'That is gone. He will forever be linked to this act. He will have to carry this as some form of personal penance.' Gurney acknowledged people wanted to know why the tree had been felled, but said: 'Unfortunately it is no more than drunken stupidity. It is something he will regret for the rest of his life.' At the sentencing Wright urged the court to reject the idea that either man was intoxicated. 'The court can be sure they were sober and prepared to do what they did,' he said, with the felling requiring a 'high degree of planning and premeditation'. Wright added: 'This was an expedition which required significant planning in terms of taking a vehicle, driving for about 40 minutes to a car park, taking with them appropriate specialist equipment, carrying the equipment for about 20 minutes' walk in each direction. 'The felling was carried out in a deliberate, professional way.' Christopher Knox, defence barrister for Graham, said his client had been remanded in custody before the trial for 'his own sake' after attempting to take his own life. Knox described Graham, who owned a groundwork business, as a 'troubled man' who had a much more positive side to him than what was being seen in court. 'This is a man who was making a living with a decent business, a proper business,' he said. He said Graham's home had been damaged since his arrest and he had received hate mail. The judge said the felling caused widespread distress. She told them: 'You revelled in the coverage, taking pride in what you have done, knowing you were responsible for the crime so many people were talking about. 'Whether that was the sole explanation for what you did, I do not know, however I know you are both equally culpable.' Kim McGuinness, the metro mayor for north-east England, said she hoped the pair now realised the seriousness of their actions. 'I'm glad to finally see justice being done, but the sentence could never reflect the devastation we all still feel for the loss of our beloved Sycamore Gap tree,' she said. The public gallery was packed for the sentencing and included 78-year-old Sheila Hillman, who had travelled up with her husband John, 84, from Wolverhampton. Originally from Newcastle, she said she was 'incensed and heartbroken' by the felling and wanted to see justice being done. But she thought the sentences were too short and still did not understand why the pair had done it. 'There's plenty of trees in Cumbria for them to cut down.'
Auto Blog
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Walmart is selling a ‘lightweight' $75 mini chainsaw for just $33, and shoppers say it's a ‘little powerhouse'
View post: Will the Suzuki Jimny Finally Come to America? View post: Tesla Further Behind in Self-Driving Race With Rival's Announcement Autoblog aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. When it comes to doing yard work, we all want the process to be as seamless and quick as possible. That's why you need the proper power tools and equipment to help you painlessly perform this tedious chore. One such tool is the Untimaty Handheld Mini Chainsaw, which is now on sale at Walmart for just $33. You can save 56% on this small but powerful device that will help you trim, prune, and cut the shrubs and trees in your yard. Untimaty Handheld Mini Chainsaw, $33 (was $75) at Walmart Weighing less than 3 pounds, this mini chainsaw measures 15 inches long, 3 inches wide, and 4.70 inches high. It features a 650-watt pure copper motor, 6-inch chain length, and 22 foot per second speed that can cut through 6-inch branches in just five seconds. The device also has an automatic oiling system that provides a steady oil flow to the chain that prevents overheating and reduces friction. One shopper wrote, 'This is the best saw ever! Lightweight with a lot of power.' Another added, 'A sawing little powerhouse!' A third customer said, 'This small cordless chainsaw is perfect for my gardening. I use it to trim branches and feel very comfortable. The battery life is very long, really improving efficiency. High-grade material, durable, and easy to maintain.' This tool is powered by two 21V 2000mAh rechargeable batteries that can be fully charged in just three hours. Once fully charged, they offer a runtime between 45 to 60 minutes and 100 cuts, giving you plenty of time to finish your yardwork. For added safety, the chainsaw also features a security lock, gloves, goggles, and a baffle to block debris. 'Effective yard maintenance tool,' wrote one reviewer. 'I needed a small, lightweight handheld mini saw to use in my yard. This has been very helpful for me. More efficient and less manpower on my arms.' For just $33, you can have a pristine and clean-looking yard with this handheld mini chainsaw. Add it to your cart today to save 56%. About the Author Victoria Garcia View Profile
The Guardian
15-07-2025
- The Guardian
Two men behind ‘senseless' felling of Sycamore Gap tree jailed for four years
Two men who carried out a 'moronic mission' to fell one of the most loved and photographed trees in the UK have been jailed. Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were each given prison sentences of four years and three months for an act of criminal damage that caused the Sycamore Gap tree to crash down on to Hadrian's wall in Northumberland on a stormy September night in 2023. The attack, using a chainsaw in the middle of the night, was met with sadness, disbelief and anger that rippled around the world. The sycamore was probably planted in the late 19th century and in recent decades the site was known as a beauty spot where people went to picnic, celebrate birthdays, propose marriage, spread ashes or just take photos. Graham, from Carlisle, and Carruthers, from Wigton, were found guilty in May of the criminal damage of the tree and the wall beside it, a Unesco world heritage site. They had denied criminal damage even though there was evidence that Graham's car had been used to drive to the beauty spot with a chainsaw in the boot. During an eight-day trial at Newcastle crown court, the jury watched footage from Graham's phone of the tree being felled and heard messages between the pair that the prosecution said showed them revelling in the infamy. The prosecutor, Richard Wright KC, said during the trial that the crime was a 'moronic mission' and the 'arboreal equivalent of mindless thuggery', and that the two men showed a 'basic lack of decency and courage to own up to what they did'. He said: 'Up and down the country and across the world, the reaction of all right-thinking people to the senseless felling of the Sycamore Gap tree has been one of sadness and anger. Who would do such a thing? Why would anyone do such a thing? Take something beautiful and destroy it for no good reason.' Wright said the 'public indignation, anger and downright disgust' at the felling had been palpable. 'Far from being the big men they thought they were, everyone else thought that they were rather pathetic.' More details soon …
