The two men have been sentenced to four years in prison for felling the tree at Sycamore Gap in a “moronic mission”.
Former friends Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were convicted of criminal damage to the much-loved tree, which had stood for more than 100 years in a fold in the landscape.
They were also convicted of criminal damage to Hadrian’s Wall, caused when the sycamore fell on the ancient monument.
Mrs Justice Lambert sentenced the pair today following a trial in May at Newcastle Crown Court.
The destruction of the tree took less than three minutes with the two men filming the act in what prosecutors described as a “moronic mission” to cut down the landmark.
Graham and Carruthers travelled for more than 40 minutes from their homes in Cumbria, and carried their equipment across pitch black moorland during a storm back in September 2023.
The duo took a wedge from the tree as a trophy that has never been recovered and revelled in the media coverage, as news of the vandalism caused national and international headlines.
The tree was a symbol of Northumberland, was the site of countless family visits and featured in the Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
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The felled Sycamore Gap tree, on Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland
Richard Wright KC, prosecuting, told the sentencing hearing that since the trial both defendants have now admitted they “went on the mission”.
They however denied intending for the tree to be cut down, either saying they were intoxicated or that they “didn’t believe it would happen until it did”.
“The prosecution rejects these late admissions… The court can be sure they were sober and prepared to do what they did,” Wright said.
The prosecutor told the court: “This was an expedition which required significant planning in terms of taking a vehicle, driving for about 40 minutes to a car park, taking with them appropriate specialist equipment, carrying the equipment for about 20 minutes’ walk in each direction.
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Sycamore Gap stump
“The felling was carried out in a deliberate, professional way.”
He added that one of the aggravating factors was the site’s heritage status and the defendants’ attempts to avoid detection.
Wright said they knew other people, including a young boy, had been arrested in connection with the offence and were “closely following [the investigation] when they knew they were responsible”.
Andrew Poad, a National Trust manager, gave a victim impact statement which was read out in court.
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Judge Mrs Justice Lambert delivered the verdict to the two men
