Two men who cut down the legendary “Robin Hood tree” are sentenced in Britain
16 July 17:08
A court in Newcastle, United Kingdom, has sentenced two men who illegally cut down the Sycamore Gap, also known as the Robin Hood Tree, in 2023. They were sentenced to four years and three months in prison.
This was reported by The New York Times, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The incident occurred on the night of September 27, 2023. daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carrazzers, 32, destroyed a tree that had been growing for more than a century in a hollow near Hadrian’s Wall, an ancient Roman fortification 112 km long in northern England. Planted back in the XIX century, the tree became a symbol of Northumberland County and even appeared in the movie “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” (1991).
Despite the fact that the maximum sentence for property damage in Britain is six months in prison, Judge Christina Lambert imposed a harsher sentence due to the “unprecedented public outcry.” She emphasized that the tree was “a symbol of the beauty of nature” and had personal significance for many people – they proposed to each other, honored the memory of the dead, and held weddings there.
Carrazzers admitted that he was the one who cut down the tree, but said he was drunk and “does not understand why he did it.” Graham, in turn, admitted that he had brought a friend to the scene and filmed the process, but considered it all just a “fantasy.”
The police found evidence that the next day the two discussed the incident and the media’s reaction. The court believes that the main motive for the actions was “demonstrative bravado”.
The men were found guilty on two counts – for damaging the tree and the section of Hadrian’s Wall where the tree fell. The rampart itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Due to the crisis of overcrowded prisons in Britain, the convicts will serve only 40% of their sentences.
