To ask what punishment the guys who cut down sycamore gap tree deserve?

[JorgyPorgy]

I hope those sick thickoes get a jail term but also hefty fine and lengthy community service , planting hundreds of trees . Punishment to fit the crime.
I think they’ve angered & upset so many people globally that they will have targets on their backs now.
That beautiful tree was 300 y o & would have lived hundreds more. Lots of new samplings can’t replace the carbon sink of a mature tree nor give out the oxygen it did, nor support the biodiversity it did. It’s so sad.

To those wondering what the fuss is about.

This particular tree in that particular setting was something equivalent to sacred for many thousands of people There are countless ashes sprinkled there, marriage proposals made, important moments of spiritual significance to countless individuals.

Imagine someone had dynamited A cathedral or destroyed a lives work of art. The world hasn’t changed but it is still an awful loss to those for whom it’s meaningful and to society as a whole.

I don’t have an opinion about the punishment. I’m happy to leave it to the judge.

Wow just wow

(Prefacing this with a note that these comments refer to what sentence I think is appropriate IF someone is found guilty of cutting down the tree illegally. Rather than making a comment on any individuals who may or may not be suspected of doing so.)

I think they should definitely go to prison, 5 to 10 years would be fair. (That's time served inside, not out on licence.)

I doubt they'll get that though, I'd be surprised if they got more than a suspended sentence of a couple of years and a hundred hours community service. The only hope is that courts sometimes like to make an example of someone, especially in a high-profile case like this.

I really hope people making comments like this are joking.

I haven't followed the case but I'm sure they are thick vandals and mightily unpleasant people. However the punishment must fit the crime.

Put it into perspective. Would you really want to live in a society where people are whipped in public/starved/tortured for cutting down a tree? If so you need to have a word with yourselves. Yes the tree was old and beautiful and what they did is extremely sad. But it is a tree nevertheless.

They are obviously very stupid and ignorant - prolonged community service/education would be most beneficial.

Community service doing environmental/tree planting work.
The suggestions of education are a nice idea, and may have worked with younger offenders, but these are two knuckle-dragging, thick as mince thugs who won’t care less, whatever you teach them.
Only self interest - not wanting jail or other punishment - could affect or improve their behaviour.

Community payback is strictly enforced. Failure to turn up without good excuse (for example I’m in hospital) and an arrest warrant could be issued and be put back in front of a judge. It’s an alternative to prison so if you don’t do it you can be sent off to prison. Equally if you turn up and don’t behave / do the work you can be sent back.

I used to work for the council and we had folk supervising them mainly they work for the gardening team helping do gardens or maintenance team sanding back and painting railings type stuff. I don’t think they give out specific sentences ( plant trees for example) it’s an hours thing so x hours turn up at appointed time, wear old clothes.

Trial by fire(ordeal)

Thanks for taking the time to explain.

personally it’s not something I could feel sad about as I have no personal connection however I can understand how some people feel sad as it’s a special place for them. Especially if the guys did it just to be nasty, then is really is just unnecessary.

I don't think they should get jail. I think they should get three years community service where they plant trees, advocate for trees and tend areas for the National Trust.

A ban from using all social media and advertising, even within their business lives. Basically taboo their names.

They wanted to be famous... s having to live without their outlet would be the biggest punishment.

Where did you see me asking for them to be whipped?

I live locally to Sycamore Gap and it's a special place to many people... friends have got engaged, including a now widowed friend, ashes have been scattered there, it was a place of solace for many, a piece of history and a landmark. I think it was such a shock because it was so loved and to cut it down for no reason was such a vile unnecessary act. Sadly from what I've read about the trial they seemed to find it funny. They're grown men, I can't imagine the embarrassment of being in a relationship or related to one of them.

A very very heavy fine and then 320 hours (2 months) planting trees for the Woodland Trust - with a repeat fine for every month that they fail to complete their unpaid work.

It's the only thing, arrogant thickos like that understand

Plus the humiliation of everyone in the country knowing what complete arseholes they are.

I feel desperately sorry for their children though.

Prison. It's not pointless, it would cheer me up.

Those who find enjoyment in trampling in the small pleasures of others are manipulative sadists. It's not about the tree, as such, it's about the wanton destruction of something beautiful, treasured in the memories of many worldwide. It's about the thrill of power they got from it. Vile creatures. I can't think of a suitable punishment that anyone else would find acceptable but I hope they are publicly made fun of and shamed in their local communities for a very long time. Scummy wannabees seeking notoriety and mistaking it for fame.

All of the above plus criminal damage to a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hadrian's Wall.

A large fine which should go to the woodland trust or similar.
Community service doing the less fun conservation work like litter picking on the side of the road or on canals.
Prison should be reserved for violent offenders.

Bring back the stocks.

Really large hefty fine, community service planting trees. Home curfew 6pm - 6am and all weekend. Hit them where it hurts.

£100 fine. It wasn't a human or animal. What was it worth? £4oo for making furniture. But you would still have to cut it down to realise that value.
Next case!

They are too stupid. Education won’t work.

Far too little! A developer near us who chopped down an oak tree with a TPO on, was fined £20,000.

And he owned the tree.

I see they’ve put a suitably high £ value on the tree. I’m hoping that indicates or will feed into a custodial sentence but I’m not sure what the enticing guidelines are.

Sentencing guidelines, I mean.

I feel sorry for people who don’t realise the importance and value of trees.