A man has been sentenced for his role in the felling of the Sycamore Gap Tree, a landmark that had stood for nearly 150 years. The incident, described by prosecutors as a “senseless act,” saw the iconic tree cut down in less than three minutes.
The tree, a cherished natural monument and a place of sanctuary for many, was felled by a chainsaw. One individual wielded the tool, while another recorded the event on a cellphone. Prosecutors stated that both men were equally culpable, though they could not definitively assign who performed which action. The motive behind the destruction remains unclear, with suggestions that it may have been a “moronic mission” or a drunken prank.
Evidence presented at trial indicated the involvement of both men. Digital data placed one man’s Range Rover near the tree around the time of the felling, and video footage of the incident, complete with location metadata, was discovered on his phone. Text messages exchanged between the two men following the event further implicated them.Despite their attempts to downplay their chainsaw expertise and deny their presence at the scene, the jury found them guilty.
one of the convicted men will now carry the consequences of his actions as a “form of personal penance,” according to his attorney, who characterized the act as “drunken stupidity” that his client would regret for the remainder of his life.