Daniel Graham [pictured left] and Adam Carruthers, the morons behind the destruction of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, for which they were found guilty on 27 September 2023, were also investigated for alleged homophobic assaults that occurred shortly before their crime.
Prior to their act of tree vandalism, a man reported an attack in a Cumbria layby – a known cruising area – where he faced verbal abuse and had icing sugar thrown at him from a vehicle. The victim promptly reported the incident but the police fluffed the investigation, saying that a vehicle matching the description provided by the victim was looked into, but errors in the registration details ruined the case.
The victim’s frustration only escalated after he was later shown videos of other men being subjected to similar abuse but the Crown Prosecution Service eventually decided not to charge Graham and Carruthers, citing lack of evidence and the elapsed time since the incidents as reasons for dismissal.
The Crown Prosecution Service has been vocal about its commitment to tackle hate crimes, urging victims to come forward but the repeated failures to bring charges against Graham and Carruthers highlight significant gaps in the support mechanisms for victims of hate crimes.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8v8leg97eo – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8v8leg97eo – This BBC article reports that Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, the two men convicted of felling the Sycamore Gap tree, were also investigated in connection with alleged homophobic assaults. The incidents involved verbal abuse and the throwing of icing sugar at victims in Cumbria. Despite initial investigations, the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to pursue charges due to insufficient evidence and the time elapsed since the incidents.
- https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/men-guilty-felling-much-loved-british-sycamore-gap-tree-2025-05-09/ – Reuters reports that Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were found guilty of criminal damage for cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in September 2023. The tree, approximately 200 years old, was a beloved landmark near Hadrian’s Wall. Prosecutors described the act as deliberate vandalism, supported by video evidence from Graham’s phone. The felling also caused damage to a portion of Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/apr/30/two-men-charged-over-felling-of-sycamore-gap-tree – The Guardian reports that Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were charged with criminal damage for felling the Sycamore Gap tree and damaging a neighboring part of Hadrian’s Wall. The charges followed an investigation into the incident, which caused widespread outrage. The men were arrested in October 2023 and were due to appear in court in May 2024.
- https://www.apnews.com/article/b8d55c84fdd96d25f9349f038620fbc8 – AP News details the trial of Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, who were accused of cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree near Hadrian’s Wall. The prosecution presented evidence, including a video from Graham’s phone and digital data linking Graham’s car to the site. The defense claimed innocence and mutual blame, with each trying to deflect responsibility onto the other. The trial began on April 28, 2025, and jurors were under direction to reach a unanimous verdict.
- https://www.apnews.com/article/a7a57a2cd4dba12661405b1786a63192 – AP News reports that prosecutors accused Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers of deliberately cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree in a high-profile trial. The act was described as the ‘arboreal equivalent of mindless thuggery.’ The prosecution presented digital evidence, including a video of the tree’s felling taken from Graham’s phone and sent to Carruthers, with metadata placing it at the scene. Both men denied involvement and blamed each other, with Graham suggesting he was framed and Carruthers downplaying the tree’s significance.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references recent events from September 2023, indicating a relatively current context. However, the absence of very recent updates might suggest some delay in reporting.
Quotes check
Score:
0
Notes:
No direct quotes are found in the narrative to verify.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from the BBC, a well-established and reputable news organisation known for its high standards of journalism and fact-checking.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The reported incidents and their consequences are plausible and align with the seriousness of hate crimes and vandalism. The narrative provides specific details about the events and their impact.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative passes with high confidence due to its recent context, the reliability of the source, and the plausibility of the events described. The lack of direct quotes is a minor issue.
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