Daniel Graham, 41, has been released on license after serving just 16 months of a four-year and three-month sentence for his role in the felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree. His release follows that of his accomplice, Adam Carruthers, who was freed earlier this year.
The pair were jailed in July 2025 after being convicted of criminal damage to both the tree and Hadrian's Wall, which was struck by the falling sycamore. They embarked on the act of vandalism on September 27, 2023, traveling from their homes in Cumbria to the Northumberland site in Graham's Range Rover, nicknamed the 'Black Pig'. During a storm, they hauled equipment across moorland, and Carruthers used a chainsaw to cut down the tree while Graham recorded the act on his phone. The destruction took less than three minutes.
The 150-year-old sycamore, located near Hadrian's Wall, was a significant landmark that had appeared in the 1991 film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" and attracted numerous visitors. Its felling sparked national outrage and condemnation from politicians, including then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
At their sentencing, the court heard that both men would serve 40% of their prison terms behind bars, with the remainder on license. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated that offenders released on license are subject to strict conditions and can be returned to prison immediately if they breach them. Both Graham and Carruthers remain subject to these license conditions.
The vandalism caused an estimated £622,191 in damage to the tree and £1,144 to Hadrian's Wall. Despite the significant damage and public outcry, neither man has recovered a wedge of wood they reportedly removed from the trunk as a trophy.