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  "path": "/2026/04/16/man-jailed-felling-sycamore-gap-tree-released-just-10-months-27996942/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-16T10:13:15.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
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  "textContent": "Adam Carruthers is thought to have been released from prison after the Sycamore Gap tree was destroyed (Picture: PA)\n\nOne of the two men who cut down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree is said to have been released from jail.\n\nAdam Carruthers, 33, was handed a four-year sentence for felling the famous Northumberland tree with Daniel Graham.\n\nThe pair went on a ‘moronic mission’ to chop down the landmark at Hadrian’s Wall in September 2023, an act that left the nation gobsmacked and saw part of the historic wall being damaged too.\n\nNow Carruthers has been released back into the community after serving around ten months, it is understood.\n\nTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo\n\nUp Next\n\nPrevious Page\n\nNext Page\n\n##  Sign up for all of the latest stories\n\nStart your day informed with Metro's **News Updates** newsletter or get **Breaking News** alerts the moment it happens.\n\nBoth men were told during their trial that they would serve 40% of their sentences behind bars, with the remainder to be completed on licence in the community.\n\nCarruthers was released under a scheme known as the Home Detention Curfew Scheme at some point in March.\n\nThe decision is said to have been taken by the governor of the prison where he was serving following a risk assessment.\n\nThe chopping down of the Sycamore Gap tree caused outrage around the world (Picture: PA)\n\nThe 33-year-old spoke to ITV off-camera at a Cumbria turf business where he used to work.\n\nHe said he was happy to be out of prison.\n\nCarruthers will still need to wear an electronic tag and follow a curfew and licence conditions.\n\nSycamore Gap tree in all its glory before it was razed to the ground (Picture: John Millar/National Trust Images/PA Wire)\n\nThe stump of the Sycamore Gap now looks like a fenced-off graveyard (Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)\n\nA Ministry of Justice spokesperson told **Metro** : ‘Anyone released into Home Detention Curfew faces strict licence conditions and must be tagged. Those who break the rules can be returned to prison.’\n\nGraham, 40, and Carruthers were jailed after the court found they had driven 40 minutes in the night to cut the tree, which took them under three minutes to do as they brought tools with them.\n\nThe pair thought it would be a ‘bit of a laugh’ to fell the Robin Hood tree which was up to 120 years old.\n\nDaniel Graham was jailed for four years and three months last year over his role in the felling of Sycamore Gap tree (Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)\n\nWhile the original Sycamore Gap tree that inspired films and poems has been lost, its saplings might be salvageable.\n\nCuttings from the majestic tree were rescued by National Trust and planted last year to try to allow it to live on.\n\nWhile the Sycamore tree is now just a stump, the scientists removed almost 50 saplings before it was too late.\n\n******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.******\n\n**For more stories like this,** check our news page.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Man jailed for felling the Sycamore Gap tree released after just 10 months"
}