Man accused of chopping down Sycamore Gap tree faces trial as he denies offences

Daniel Hordon

12 June 2024 at 6:10 am·1-min read

Daniel Graham (L) and Adam Carruthers (R) leaving court after a hearing last month. Carruthers has today denied felling the tree and a trial date has been set. <i>(Image: NNP)</i> — Daniel Graham (L) and Adam Carruthers (R) leaving court after a hearing last month. Carruthers has today denied felling the tree and a trial date has been set. *(Image: NNP)*

A second defendant accused of felling the famous Sycamore Gap tree and causing more than £620,000 of damage has denied the offences.

Adam Carruthers, 31, of Church Street, Wigton, Cumbria, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to deny causing £622,191 worth of damage to the much-photographed Northumberland tree.

He also denied causing £1,144 worth of damage to Hadrian’s Wall, a Unesco World Heritage Site, which was hit by the tree when it was felled overnight on September 28 2023.

Co-accused Daniel Graham, 38, of Milbeck Stables, Carlisle, did not attend the hearing as he was “unavoidably detained”, his barrister Christopher Knox said.

Daniel Graham (L) and Adam Carruthers (R) at Newcastle Magistrates' Court for a hearing in May. (Image: PA MEDIA)

Graham had previously denied the same offences at a magistrates’ court hearing.

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Both the tree and the wall were said to belong to the National Trust.

Judge Paul Sloan KC set a trial date of December 3 and granted Carruthers conditional bail in the meantime.

He set a case management hearing for August 27.

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