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Two friends accused of cutting down the famous Sycamore Gap tree shared a series of voice notes after the “moronic mission”, a court heard.
Ground worker Daniel Graham, 39, of Carlisle and mechanic Adam Carruthers, 32, of Wigton, Cumbria each deny two counts of criminal damage to the tree and the wall, overnight on September 28 2023.
Prosecutors have told a jury at Newcastle Crown Court that the pair travelled from Carlisle to Sycamore Gap, where they used a chainsaw to bring down the iconic tree.
While one cut down the tree, the jury was told the other filmed the moment it came down - with footage played to jurors from Graham’s iPhone allegedly showing the act.
Yesterday, the jury was also played voice notes shared between the friends on the following day as news broke of the irreparable damage spread across the world.
The court heard Graham sent a voice message to Carruthers using his nickname, saying: “Jeffrey, it’s gone viral, it’s gone worldwide, it will be on ITV News tonight.”
Later, Graham sent another message saying: “Jeffrey, it’s on f****** Sky News as we speak.”
Friends shared messages on tree's destruction, jury told
Yesterday, the jury heard from police analyst Amy Sutherland, who took members through messages between Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers on the morning of September 28 2023 about news coverage of the tree felling.
In one message Graham said to Carruthers: “Not a bad angle on that stump”, adding: “That’s clearly a professional.”
One screenshot sent by Carruthers to Graham showed Facebook comments with a circle around one that said: “Judging by the quality of the cut and size of tree I would say whoever it was has knowledge of how to fell large trees.”
The jury heard there was another comment underneath a man called Kevin Hartness saying: “Some weak people that walk this earth disgusting behaviour.”
Jurors were played a voice note from Graham to Carruthers saying: “That Kevin Hartness comment. Weak… f****** weak? Does he realise how heavy shit is?”
Carruthers replied with his own voice note saying: “I’d like to see Kevin Hartness launch an operation like we did last night… I don’t think he’s got the minerals.”
Alex Ross1 May 2025 10:27
Why is the Sycamore Gap tree so famous
Situated in a sloping gap of the Hadrian’s Wall, near the village of Once Brewed, the Sycamore Gap tree became one of the most famous places in England over the past few decades.
The tree, planted 150 years ago, has always been an icon for people in the region, with many having used the site to mark birthdays, do marriage proposals and scatter ashes.
But it was in 1991 when the Sycamore Gap achieved worldwide fame, appearing in the Hollywood film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves which starred Kevin Costner. As tourists from as far away as the US flocked to see the tree, locals started calling it the “Kevin Costner tree”.
The tree’s fame was further helped thanks to the advent of social media, with photographs of the solitary tree beamed around the world on people’s phones and computers.
Alex Ross1 May 2025 10:22
Recap: Video footage of 'tree chopped down' shown to jury
As part of yesterday’s evidence, two versions of a video, prosecutors say was taken on Daniel Graham’s iPhone, was played to the jury.
The footage allegedly shows the falling of the Sycamore Gap tree.
Lasting 2min 41sec, it appears to show the outline of a figure working at the trunk of the tree, before it crashes to the ground.
Police analyst Amy Sutherland told the court that the coordinates for where the video was filmed were for Sycamore Gap.
You can read more on the video here:
Alex Ross1 May 2025 10:21
What's happening today
Today is the third day of the trial at Newcastle Crown Court.
Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers are both charged with two counts of criminal damage to the tree and Hadrian’s Wall, overnight on September 28 2023.
After Tuesday’s opening, yesterday we heard evidence from a police analyst as well as statements from the first officer at the scene and an expert from Historic England.
The case will open again shortly, at 10.30am, with more evidence put forward by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Alex Ross1 May 2025 10:18
English (US) ·