Felling of the Legendary "Robin Hood" Tree: Convicted Perpetrators Await Sentencing
Courtroom Discussion Regarding the Appeal on the 'Robin Hood Tree' Case's Implications on Civil Liberties - Conviction in the Robin Hood Tree Court Case
Hey there! You know, the duo accused of bringing down the iconic tree known as the "Robin Hood" in North England got a guilty verdict. It was Newcastle Crown Court that made the call – they found the 32-year-old and the 39-year-old guilty of committing this act together back in September 2023, causing around €730,000 worth of damage. Their sentence is still up in the air.
This tree, famous from the Hollywood blockbuster "Robin Hood - King of Thieves" starring Kevin Costner, took a chainsaw to its untouched glory and plunged into the equally popular Hadrian's Wall, adding to the destruction. The prosecutor, Richard Wright, referred to their act as pure vandalism.
These two conspired like pros, according to the prosecution. Wright mentioned in a news agency PA report that despite the tree being over a century old, it didn't take much to make irreparable damages, with one of them wielding the chainsaw while the other filmed the mayhem.
A Picture-Perfect Scene Spoiled
This demolition stirred quite a stir all across the nation. The sycamore tree that stood in a hollow, the so-called Sycamore Gap, in Northumberland, had been a popular photo spot for years. It was often depicted in pictures, films, and works of art, as per Wright. Hadrian’s Wall, built by the Romans in the second century AD for protection against northern invasions and control of trade routes, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Movie Reference: Robin Hood - King of Thieves ( staring Kevin Costner )
- Criminal Conviction
- Newcastle
- Sentencing Pending
- North England
- Vandalism
- Kevin Costner
- Hadrian's Wall
- Prosecution
[1] The two defendants, Daniel Graham (39) and Adam Carruthers (32), were found guilty of criminal damage for cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland, near Hadrian's Wall in northern England. Each was convicted on two charges of criminal damage: one for the destruction of the historic Sycamore Gap tree and one for damage caused to the nearby Hadrian's Wall by the falling tree. They face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years due to the tree’s symbolic and heritage value as a significant factor in deciding the sentence's severity.
[2] Both men showed no emotions during the guilty verdict announcement, and the case was marked with prosecutors playing video evidence of the tree being chopped down, which was recorded by one of the defendants and shared between them. The defendants attempted to shift responsibility during the trial, but the evidence was sufficient for conviction. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 15th, 2025, with the court recognizing the crime's seriousness due to the cultural and environmental importance of the Sycamore Gap tree and Hadrian's Wall.
[3] The sentencing for the defendants, Daniel Graham (39) and Adam Carruthers (32), is postponed until July 15th, 2025, as they await sentencing for their criminal actions in cutting down the historic Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland, near Hadrian's Wall in northern England.
[4] The community and employment policies of Northumberland council are expected to address the aftermath of this destruction, with an emphasis on restoration efforts, as well as implementing measures to prevent further vandalism in the region. Furthermore, the employment policy is anticipated to support and rehabilitate the defendants following their sentencing.
