UK Men Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Cutting Down 200-Year-Old "Robin Hood Tree"

Accused of Damaging Hadrian's Wall
200-Year-Old Tree Cut Down Overnight

Two men in their 30s have been sentenced to prison for illegally cutting down the famous "Robin Hood tree" in the United Kingdom.

According to foreign media outlets including The New York Times (NYT), on July 15 (local time), the Newcastle Crown Court in England sentenced Daniel Graham (39) and Adam Carruthers (32) to four years and three months in prison for damaging the Sycamore Gap tree and Hadrian's Wall.

The fallen British sycamore gap tree as of September 28, 2023. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

The two men were accused of illegally cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree, estimated to be around 200 years old, on September 28, 2023. Located in Northumberland, northern England, this tree stood next to Hadrian's Wall, built in AD 122 by Emperor Hadrian to defend the northern frontier of the Roman Empire. The wall is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The tree was beloved for its picturesque location between two hills along the wall. It gained international fame after appearing in the 1991 film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," starring Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman, which led to its nickname, the "Robin Hood tree." In 2016, it was also named "Tree of the Year" in a competition organized by the British woodland conservation group Woodland Trust.

However, the tree was found completely cut down and toppled over the wall overnight in September 2023. Graham and Carruthers, who were friends, were arrested in October of the same year and charged in May last year. Graham, who runs a small construction business, claimed that Carruthers, a mechanic, was responsible, while Carruthers denied the crime. However, multiple pieces of evidence, including text messages and videos exchanged between them, indicated their involvement. The exact motive for their actions remains unclear.

Daniel Graham (left) and Adam Carruthers, accused of cutting down the "Robin Hood" tree. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Previously, a jury determined that Graham and Carruthers had conspired to cut down the tree and damage part of the wall, causing damages estimated at 622,191 pounds (about 1.16 billion won) and 1,144 pounds (about 2.1 million won), respectively.

Regarding the sentencing, Judge Christina Lambert explained, "A high level of sentence was imposed in consideration of the social impact."

Meanwhile, last year, the National Trust, a British heritage management organization, announced plans to preserve the tree by replanting its remains and seeds.