Two men are found guilty of illegally cutting down the world famous Sycamore Gap tree
Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, both from Cumbria, are each convicted of two counts of criminal damage
Northumbria Police say the pair never gave an explanation for felling the tree, but prosecutors say they were "revelling in the public outcry" as news of their crime spread
"In just under three minutes, Graham and Carruthers ended [the tree's] historic legacy in a deliberate and mindless act of destruction," the CPS says
What sentence might the men receive on 15 July? We run through the possibilities
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Watch moment Sycamore Gap tree is felled
Reporting by Duncan Leatherdale. Edited by Rachel Kerr
Chris Robinson
BBC News North East & Cumbria
Standing tall for over a century, a lone tree at Northumberland's Sycamore Gap had survived even the harshest of elements that often battered its remote setting.
For many, it was more than a tree. It was a symbol of Northumberland and the surrounding North East.
You can read more reaction from people at the time.
Ever since the world awoke to find the tree had been felled, there has been a torrent of anger and sadness shared across social media.
Prosecutors said Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers had revelled in it, exchanging dozens of screenshots of social media posts and press reports in the aftermath.
That outpouring of emotion has continued today with the convictions of the men.
One woman described the pair as "mindless thugs", while another wrote that their actions were '"horrible" and had "distressed millions of people".
The duo were described by one user as "cultural vandals'", while another contributor said he felt "sad" that people would "resort to destruction for giggles".
Upon seeing footage of the tree being felled, which had been filmed on Graham's phone, one woman said she felt like she had "just watched a murder".
Another chapter in the tree's history has been written today.
There's no question it was a landmark for Northumberland but its appeal reached far beyond the confines of Hadrian's Wall.
The sycamore had been planted specifically to be a feature in the landscape sometime between 1860 and 1890 by the previous landowner john Clayton.
The National Trust took over its care in 1942 and the wall which it towered over was given Unesco World Heritage Site status in 1987.
It found global fame when it was used as a filming location in the 1991 movie Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, with Kevin Costner in the eponymous role rescuing the young boy Wulf (played by Dan Newman), who had fled the baying hounds of the villainous Guys Gisborne (Michael Wincott), from its branches,
Costner also memorably plucked a sprig of mistletoe from the tree while talking to his companion Azeem, played by Morgan Freeman.
The tree was named England's Tree of the Year by the Woodland Trust in 2016 and was a popular spot with both locals and visitors.
On 27 September 2023 it was deliberately felled sparking international fury and consternation.
Now those behind what prosecutors called the "mindless thuggery" have been convicted, another chapter ends.
In November, the National Trust announced the 49 sites which would receive saplings grown from the felled Sycamore gap tree.
Each sapling represents a foot in height of the tree and are to be spread out as part of the trust's Trees of Hope scheme.
They are being cared for by the National Trust's Plant Conservation Centre, and will be ready to plant out next winter.
You can read more about it here.
The Northumberland National Park Authority said shoots were growing from the stump in defiance of the destructive intentions of Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers.
A spokesperson said: "The felling of Sycamore Gap has been difficult for people to understand and come to terms with, as it meant so much to so many.
"Our focus remains on ensuring positive outcomes from this tragic act and Northumberland National Park Authority will continue to work with partners to ensure the Sycamore Gap legacy is fitting for people, place and nature.
"There are shoots from the stump growing defiantly, saplings from the seeds have become Trees of Hope in communities across the UK and the largest section of the tree will have a new home at The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre as a beautiful installation.
"Those who had a connection to the tree can continue to do so."
Martin Lindsay
BBC North East & Cumbria investigations
The deliberate felling of the tree on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland angered people around the world. For the man who was first on the scene, it was a moment that changed his life forever.
Park ranger Gary Pickles was in shock.
Where once had stood arguably England's favourite tree, there was now just air.
When the call had come through earlier that morning, Gary had thought it was a prank.
His working day on 28 September 2023 had barely started when a farmer called his office to report the tree was down.
"I doubted a farmer would be telling us a silly story so I thought 'oh my god, I think this might be true'."
You can read the full story here and listen on BBC Sounds here.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers should face "tough sentences" after they were convicted of illegally felling the much-loved and "iconic" Sycamore Gap tree,
She said: "Nothing will replace our iconic Sycamore Gap tree, it was a North East landmark and I know so many people, like me, are still devastated by its loss.
"I'm pleased we're getting justice but we must see tough sentences follow this guilty verdict.
"For almost 200 years the sycamore stood proudly in Northumberland, and in one night of idiocy it is gone.
"The pair who deliberately felled our famous tree must be punished."
The men will be sentenced on 15 July with criminal damage having a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, external.
The National Trust, which had owned the tree since the 1940s, said the "needless" felling of the tree had "shocked people around the country and overseas" which demonstrated the "powerful connection between people and our natural heritage"
"It was felt particularly deeply here in the north-east of England where the tree was an emblem of the region and the backdrop to many personal memories," a spokesperson said.
They added: "We're now focussed on creating a positive legacy for the tree, working in partnership with others.
"This includes planting the 49 Trees of Hope grown from the original sycamore in communities across the UK later this year."
You can scroll back through this page to find plenty of detail about all the evidence in the Sycamore Gap trial, but here is a brief summary of what the jurors heard.
The two men found guilty of felling the tree had shown "no remorse", Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth said.
She said the felling had been "unfathomable" and "generated outrage and upset among many people who had taken Northumberland’s iconic tree to heart".
She praised police for their investigation which had led to the conviction of Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers for the "deliberate act of vandalism".
"There was no remorse, but there was compelling evidence, and now there will be justice," Ms Dungworth said.
Erica Witherington
Reporting from Newcastle Crown Court
"It was just a tree."
That's what Adam Carruthers shrugged on the witness stand.
He said he just couldn't understand why news of the felling had sparked such worldwide attention, "almost as if someone had been murdered".
In some ways he had a point – the turnout here at Newcastle Crown Court has been on a par with some of the high profile murder trials I’ve covered.
But for many, this has felt like murder.
A thing of living beauty, irreplaceable, loved, flourishing for more than 100 years, toppled in less than three minutes.
Northumbria Police has gone to great lengths to catch the pair who did it.
The CPS instructed a top barrister to argue the case against them. A high court judge has presided over their trial.
Now we await the sentence she hands down. What price for chopping down a tree and damaging an ancient wall? We’ll be returning here on 15 July to find out.
Jonny Manning
BBC News, North East and Cumbria
Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers will be sentenced on 15 July for two counts of criminal damage, but what kind of sentence should they expect?
Those found guilty of criminal damage with a value of more than £5,000 can face a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, according to the Sentencing Council, external, which promotes transparency and consistency in criminal sentencing.
However, longer prison terms are only considered when the guilty party is found to have a high level of culpability and their actions caused serious distress and harm.
Sentences for less serious cases can involve fines or community orders.
It will be the decision of the judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, to weigh up all the factors when she delivers her sentence in a couple of months.
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Supt Kevin Waring makes statement after guilty verdicts in Sycamore Gap trial
The investigation after the Sycamore Gap tree was felled had been "meticulous", a senior Northumbria Police officer said.
Supt Kevin Waring said the tree "held a special place in the hearts of many" and its destruction had been "devastating".
"We often hear references made to mindless acts of vandalism – but that term has never been more relevant than today in describing the actions of those individuals," he said.
Historic England, which helps manage the Roman wall, also welcomed today's verdicts.
A spokesperson said: "The loss of the Sycamore Gap tree and damage to Hadrian’s Wall, which is legally protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a World Heritage Site, was felt deeply in the North East, but also nationally and internationally.
"The needless destruction in September 2023 saw an outpouring of grief and disbelief that showed the strength of people’s connection with nature and heritage.
"We will continue to work with partners to create a lasting memory of the tree for people so that it will not be forgotten."
Months ago at one of the two men's first court appearances, prosecutors said the irreparable damage to the tree had been estimated to be worth £622,191.
That figure was never put to the jury, although they were told the cost of repairing the Roman wall had been fixed at £1,144.
The value of the tree is important as it is one of the factors the judge will considers when deciding what sentence to impose, but there had been a dispute between the various sides what it actually was with conflicting assessments concluding different monetary values.
Christopher Knox, barrister for Graham, said the prosecution had acknowledged their initial estimate was too high and had moved down to about £450,000, although his team's figure was "much lower than that", but ultimately the number was "wholly academic".
However, both the prosecutors and the two men's legal teams said putting an exact figure on it would not make a material difference, it was already accepted it was in the top range of harm caused.
Andrew Gurney, representing Carruthers, said there were other "more important factors" that could make a difference to the judge's decision than the value of the tree, while prosecutor Rebecca Brown said Mrs Justice Lambert would "not be asked to make a finding with regard the monetary value".
Mrs Justice Lambert has now remanded both men into custody ahead of their sentencing on 15 July.
She said Daniel Graham had been held on remand since just before Christmas for his "own protection".
After hearing submissions from the prosecution and Carruthers' barrister, the latter asking for him to be released on bail as he had been during the trial, the judge decided to remand Carruthers as well.
She said now he had been convicted of a "serious offence" for which he could receive a "lengthy" prison term, there was a "substantial" risk he would fail to turn up for his sentencing hearing.
She also said it was for his "own welfare" and protection as his identity as one of the men who felled the much-loved tree was widely known and there had already been incidents with his family being approached and targeted by others.
The probation service will prepare pre-sentence reports for both men, with Graham also set to undergo a mental health assessment before sentencing.
The Crown Prosecution Service has welcomed the guilty verdicts.
Gale Gilchrist, chief crown prosecutor at CPS North East, said the tree had stood for more than a century and been an "iconic natural landmark in the North East of England" which brought "immeasurable joy to those visiting the area".
She said: "In just under three minutes, Graham and Carruthers ended its historic legacy in a deliberate and mindless act of destruction.
"As news of their crime spread the following day, the pair exchanged messages, revelling in the public outcry they had caused.
"Thanks to an outstanding investigation on the part of our police partners, the Crown Prosecution Service was able to build a robust case against both men and bring them to trial.
"The international reaction of disapproval and anger following the destruction at Sycamore Gap illustrates how keenly the public has felt the loss of this beloved site, and we hope our community can take some measure of comfort in seeing those responsible convicted today."
Reacting to the verdict, Northumbria Police said the pair had never given an explanation for their actions, although there could "never be a justifiable one".
Supt Kevin Waring said the tree "held a special place in the hearts of many" and its destruction had been "devastating".
He said the force had carried out a "meticulous investigation", adding: "Due to the unwavering commitment of those involved in the case, today we have seen two men be found guilty of damaging not only the tree but also Hadrian's Wall."
"We often hear references made to mindless acts of vandalism – but that term has never been more relevant than today in describing the actions of those individuals.
"At no point have the two men given an explanation for why they targeted the tree – and there never could be a justifiable one."
Mr Waring said officers had "recognised the strength of feeling" across the world and thanked all those who helped "ensure those responsible have been brought to justice".
Northumbria Police have released mugshots of the two men after they were both found guilty of two counts of criminal damage.
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