They cut off the centuries-old ike tree on the Hadrian Wall: Over eight years in prison for two authors who boasted about environmental crime

The event occurred on September 27, 2023, when they traveled 30 miles from Cumbria to Northumberland through a storm, and cut the tree in less than three minutes.

By ProsecutorsTheir “their stupid” caused over 620,000 pounds of damage to the tree and more than 1,000 pounds of damage to the Hadrian Wall. They took a piece of the trophy trunk, which hasn't been recovered yet, and it seems they enjoyed media attention.

At the Newcastle Court Crown Court, Adam Carruthers, 32, and Daniel Graham, 39, were found guilty of deliberate damage. During the trial, video of the moment of cutting the tree was published.

The judge, Mrs. Justice Lambert, called them accomplices and said their actions were motivated by a desire for fame. You enjoyed the attention you got, and you were proud of the crime the whole country was talking about, she told them.

The two, once close friends, have come into conflict since they were arrested and blamed each other for the incident. They gave no explanation why they targeted this very beloved tree for the British.

The tree, which had spent over 100 years in the panoromic country, occupied a popular culture and appeared in the 1991 film Kevin Costner, Robin Hood: Prince of Thives.

It was also part of people's personal life, such as the scene of wedding proposals, the distribution of grace, and countless photographs.

A 1.8m section of the trunk is now on public display at the National Beach Discovery Centre The Bring, about two miles from where it once was, while 49 seedlings from the tree are preserved by the National Trust. /Periscope/