Tom Barton of Northumberland gives his insight into the trial surrounding the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree. The courtroom held its breath as footage of the tree's destruction was shown. The footage, now widely viewed, captured the moment a man stood next to the tree as the sound of a chainsaw echoed and the tree fell. The act was described as monumental stupidity. Adam Carruthers and Daniel Graham were accused of cutting down the world-famous tree and filming it. Despite the evidence, the motive remains unclear, as both men deny involvement and blame each other.

Daniel Graham claimed Adam Carruthers took his Range Rover and mobile phone without permission while he slept. Graham accused Carruthers of felling the tree and filming it with Graham’s phone. Graham suggested Carruthers had a fascination with the tree, recalling a conversation where Carruthers measured its circumference and expressed a desire to cut it down as a "trophy." Adam Carruthers claimed he was at home with his girlfriend, but messages suggested otherwise. He claimed to be fixing a leaky roof but his story was inconsistent. A voicenote implicated him further. The jury found the evidence overwhelming.

CNN reports that Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were found guilty of criminal damage for felling the Sycamore Gap tree and damaging Hadrian’s Wall. The tree, which stood for over 200 years, was deliberately felled in September 2023. It gained fame from its appearance in the movie "Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves" and was located on the UNESCO World Heritage listed Hadrian’s Wall. Prosecutor Richard Wright KC called the felling an act of "mindless vandalism," detailing how the men drove 30 miles to cut down the tree, with one filming the act. The jury determined the criminal damage to the tree was £622,191 and to Hadrian’s Wall was £1,144. The two men, once "best of pals," had a falling out, which played out in court. Graham testified that Carruthers had called the tree "the most famous tree in the world" and spoke of cutting it down.

The relationship between Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers deteriorated after the felling. Carruthers, a mechanic, maintained Graham's vehicles, leading to a friendship after Carruthers repaired Graham's father's Land Rover. They grew close, seeing each other often and working together. At the time of the felling, Carruthers had just become a father again. The pair traveled to Sycamore Gap in Graham's Range Rover, walked to the tree, and felled it, with one filming the act. They exchanged messages afterwards, seemingly reveling in what they had done.

In the wake of the felling, the friendship unraveled. Both men were arrested and denied involvement. Graham showed police images of chainsaws at Carruthers' workshop, claiming they "had not done their jobs properly." Graham alleged that Carruthers asked him to take the blame, citing Graham's mental health struggles. The pair met once more to end their friendship. Graham later blamed Carruthers in an anonymous phone call. During the trial, the pair blamed each other. Richard Wright, prosecuting, said they were "in it together from first to last." Carruthers and Graham were found guilty of causing criminal damage and are due to be sentenced on July 15.