Second man who chopped down the Sycamore Gap tree walks free from prison
Daniel Graham, 41, has walked free from prison after serving just 16 months, following his conviction for destroying the iconic Sycamore Gap tree. The tree, which had stood beside Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland for more than 150 years and appeared in the Hollywood film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, was chopped down in September 2023, sparking national outrage. Graham's release comes months after his accomplice, Adam Carruthers, was also freed, despite both men receiving sentences of over four years.
Graham and Carruthers drove from Cumbria and felled the tree in less than three minutes using a chainsaw, with Graham filming the destruction. The pair were convicted of criminal damage to both the tree and Hadrian's Wall, and at their sentencing in July 2025, the judge ruled they would serve 40 per cent of their sentences in custody and the remainder on licence. Rather than show remorse, the men kept a wedge of wood from the trunk as a trophy, and Carruthers even boasted about the incident to friends.
- Man jailed for felling Sycamore Gap freed after 16 months.
- Historic tree stood 150 years beside Hadrian's Wall.
- Both perpetrators released on licence despite four-year sentences.
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The Sycamore Gap tree was an iconic landmark beside Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland that had stood for over 150 years. It gained widespread recognition after appearing in the 1991 Hollywood film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and became a beloved tourist destination.
In September 2023, Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers drove from Cumbria and felled the tree with a chainsaw in less than three minutes. The incident sparked significant national outrage and widespread condemnation.
Both men were convicted of criminal damage to the tree and to Hadrian's Wall. In July 2025, they received sentences of over four years, though under sentencing guidelines they would serve only 40 per cent in custody, with the remainder on licence after release.
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The case for
Destroying a 150-year-old tree of national cultural significance was a deliberate, calculated act of vandalism with no mitigating circumstances. The men travelled specifically to commit the crime, executed it efficiently, and documented it—showing no remorse, instead keeping a trophy and boasting about it. For irreplaceable cultural heritage deliberately destroyed by unrepentant offenders, custodial punishment must properly reflect the severity of the loss, and only 16 months in prison fails to adequately condemn the act or deter similar vandalism.
The case against
The sentencing followed established judicial guidelines for criminal damage, with sentences exceeding four years reflecting the tree's significance. Serving 40 per cent of the sentence in custody before licence represents standard practice that balances punishment with rehabilitation; prison resources must be allocated carefully to focus on violent crime. The justice system properly aims for rehabilitation, and maintained licence conditions continue to ensure accountability beyond custodial release.