Daniel Graham has been released from prison on licence after serving 16 months behind bars, alongside time spent on remand, for his involvement in the destruction of the famous Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland, England. Graham, 41, was sentenced in July 2025 to four years and three months following his conviction for criminal damage alongside co-accused Adam Carruthers.
According to reports, Graham’s release follows that of Carruthers, who was freed from prison in April under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme. Both men must serve the remainder of their judicial sentences under strict licence conditions within the community.
Trial Details and Sentencing Background
During the Newcastle Crown Court trial, Mrs Justice Lambert ruled that Graham and Carruthers would serve 40% of their total sentences in custody. The trial revealed that the pair drove more than 40 minutes from their homes in Cumbria to the historic landmark on September 27, 2023. They traveled in Graham’s Range Rover before navigating pitch-black moorland during a storm.
Prosecutors established that Carruthers used a chainsaw to cut down the century-old sycamore, while Graham recorded the act on his mobile phone. The felling caused significant harm to the surrounding landscape and inflicted structural damage on Hadrian’s Wall as the tree collapsed. Court documents noted that the vandals also removed a wedge of wood from the trunk as a trophy, which has never been recovered.
Ministry of Justice Response and Licence Conditions
The Ministry of Justice issued a strict reminder regarding the conditions of early release following Graham’s departure from custody. A spokesperson stated that the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree remains a disgraceful crime and emphasized that offenders released on licence are subject to rigorous monitoring. Any breach of these conditions can result in an immediate return to prison.
The total estimated cost of the damage resulting from the incident reached £622,191 for the tree itself, alongside £1,144 for the damage inflicted upon Hadrian’s Wall. While both men have now completed their custodial terms, they remain legally bound to their licence stipulations as the community continues to reflect on the loss of the internationally recognized landmark.
