'Pal told me he cut down Sycamore Gap tree'

ONE of the men accused of cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree had a fascination with it and thought it would be a good trophy, a court heard yesterday.

- By Paul Jeeves

Groundworker Daniel Graham, 39, and mechanic Adam Carruthers, 32, are accused of felling the Northumberland tree in September 2023.

They each deny two counts of criminal damage to the landmark and nearby Hadrian's Wall.

The prosecution has alleged the pair, who sometimes worked together, had experience of cutting down large trees.

Strange

On the fourth day of the trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Graham was asked about a call Carruthers made to him on the morning of September 28, 2023.

He said: “It was Adam claiming he had cut down the Sycamore Gap tree, claiming that it was him that cut it down.