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.

This is a good idea,

Otherwise, they should be shot! Knobs.

So if two idiots come along and bulldoze your house that's OK??
After all it's only a house fgs.
You are correct in there should be punishment and a big one.

It really doesn't fit.

Wasn't aware anyone has been convicted yet so speculating on punishment is a bit premature. They have both pleaded not guilty and have a presumption of innocence.

Exactly.

Either that or the stocks every weekend for five years.

Look up “rhetorical question.” People are allowed to discuss hypotheticals.

Gross. There is no low to which some desperado woman won’t stoop.

Both men are ugly, thick, ignorant and criminal. Who mates with that???

Numerous posts are specific to the two men on trial. This hasn't been abstract discussion about the criminal justice system, it's been a thread discussing outrage and over the top revenge and punishment against two men who have not been convicted of the crime.

And @leafy74

I would say that judging women based on men's behaviour is gross. And misogynistic. And has no place on a site designed to be a source of support for women. Tell me about the time a man was held accountable for his wife acting badly and called gross, scummy and desperate for having a baby with her... ill wait.

I'm with you.

That's a very intelligent and decent comment.

It was no place on this thread.

Cut off their balls and make them eat them!

Off with their balls!

They’re on video. What more do you need?

I judge people by the company they keep and the sperm they choose to accept.

Exactly!

I judge people by the bollocks they talk on MN.

It’s totally reasonable to judge these pig ignorant men on their actions, while also wondering why some women want to have sex and have children with thick scum like these. The two points of view are valid. Women aren’t helpless little creatures without decision making abilities.

I think it's largely pathetic masculinity. Wanting to have an effect on people/show power.

Because we don’t go down the US route of making them highly visible so that people can shame them for their crimes. And rightly so.

Women in abusive relationships for example?

Maybe you need to look it up.

A question to which no answer is expected, often used for rhetorical effect.
A question posed only for dramatic or persuasive effect.
A question to which the asker does not expect an answer.

This is not a rhetorical question. It barely qualifies as hypothetical either.

I haven’t followed the story but they are denying it aren’t they?

Can someone please explain why two grown men would want to go out in the middle of the night and chop down a tree? What could be the motivation?

As for the punishment. Realistically I’d like to see people like this have to pay back to the community. So spend the rest of their days planting trees and helping nature and wildlife. Won’t happen though.

Apples v Oranges. A more accurate example would be if someone trashed your garden.

Nobody said it was ok. That it “means something” to people is irrelevant to the case. Ashes are scattered all over the place, marriage proposals are no less valid now the tree has gone. Lots of places “mean something” to people, that doesn’t mean others feel the same.

I think it’s bizarre people are focusing on the tree rather than the damage to the far more historically significant Hadrian’s Wall. Some idiots did something really stupid for ridiculous reasons. To suggest whoever did it should have a long custodial sentence shows a deep misunderstanding of the law.

I may be wrong but I guess the two defendants will be claiming they can’t be positively identified on the video.

However, if/when somebody/somebodies are convicted there is a link to the Sentencing Guidelines below which will be used to decide the sentence given. The Judge will have to determine the offence categories of Culpability and Harm, then the aggravating and mitigating factors. Despite what a lot of people think Judges and Magistrates don’t just pick sentences from the air.

https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/offences/magistrates-court/item/criminal-damage-other-than-by-fire-value-exceeding-5000-racially-or-religiously-aggravated-criminal-damage/