A man who was involved in cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree has been released from prison after serving 10 months of his over four-year sentence. Adam Carruthers, 33, was convicted in May 2025 along with his former friend Daniel Graham, 40, for causing damage to the tree and Hadrian’s Wall in September 2023.
Carruthers used a chainsaw to fell the tree while Graham recorded the act. Following a fallout between the two, Carruthers, from Wigton, Cumbria, is now out of prison with an electronic tag and is back working at Cumbria Turf in Kirkbride.
Upon his release, Carruthers expressed his happiness and confirmed his return to work. Steve Blair, the general manager of Twice Brewed Inn near Sycamore Gap, expressed shock at Carruthers’ release. The pub, a popular stop for Hadrian’s Wall walkers, houses a piece of the felled tree.
Under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme, Carruthers and Graham were sentenced to over four years in prison but were eligible for early release. The Ministry of Justice emphasized that strict conditions apply to those released under this scheme, including electronic tagging.
The incident, which caused significant damage to the tree and Hadrian’s Wall, was captured on video found on Graham’s phone. Neighbors in Wigton described Carruthers as a troubled individual who, along with Graham, embarked on a destructive mission that attracted widespread attention. The court found both men equally responsible for the tree’s destruction.
Despite the public outcry, Carruthers’ early release has prompted mixed reactions, with some questioning the leniency of the sentence. The ongoing debate reflects the lasting impact of the incident on the local community and beyond.
