Anyone else following the Sycamore Gap trial?

[HowManyMintCLubsIsTooMany]

I am baffled as to how these two men do not realise how ludicrous their defences sound despite the obvious evidence against them.

The judge must be exasperated!

The level of outrage over this tree being felled genuinely gives me hope for humanity, that so many of us were devastated on behalf of the beautiful tree. I hope they get a custodial sentence just because they do need to be made an example of, even though they both seem extremely thick and I do feel bad for their kids, on balance I think society needs to send a strong message.

It would be good for them to have some sort of education element about nature as well though.

Agreed. They have no souls.

There is a misunderstanding here. Carruthers was tracked close to Haydon Bridge earlier in the day. He would have passed within 3 miles of Sycamore Gap. He claimed that he had been taking his wife for a meal in Newcastle, but they turned back because their baby failed to settle. There was no suggestion of a shopping centre 3 miles from Sycamore Gap.

Do we know when sentencing is yet?

I do hope they get something briefly custodial.

Sentencing will be 15th July. That allows time for the probation service to prepare pre-sentence reports and for a mental health assessment on Graham.

Well they are guilty and sentence could be up to 10 years. We shall see what happens.

I think a custodial sentence would definitely be appropriate. It was a serious act of criminal damage.

I think a custodial sentence would definitely be appropriate. It was a serious act of criminal damage.

I agree. They stamped on people's hopes and dreams and memories... all for a laugh. And when they were found out, turned on each other, denied it, they are utter morons.

Those two things are effectively the same .

If people plead guilty they just get sentenced and a reduced tariff. Going to court and pleading not guilty means no reducing the sentencing tarrif. They are entitled to make a choice though. Albeit a foolish one.

The whole thing is ridiculous and has been blown completely out of proportion. It was a tree, FFS. Nobody died. Nobody was harmed.

The individuals responsible are morons, obviously. But a jury trial and a custodial sentence are a completely disproportionate waste of taxpayers money. This is a case in which the appropriate punishment would be a day in the stocks in Newcastle city centre plus about 1000 hours of community service.

I too would prefer community service. We send too many to prison but these two would be better punished by them serving us. Councils cut down trees because roots lift pavements. Nothing happens to them.

And the people that recently vandalised statues in London? No arrests no trial no punishment

Shock

A tree that has stood for 150 years is a living breathing thing. A statue isn't. It can be repaired or replaced. A tree can't

To say it was just a tree, echoes what these couple of idiots actually thought. No thought about the history, heritage or what it meant to people. Just a tree 😡. And mindless uncaring vandalism. Last I heard the stocks haven't been used since the 1800s

The tree was dear to me.

I only ever saw it once, on the first holiday I went with my now DH.
It was so beautiful, yes, just a sycamore, but so beautifully set in its surroundings.

It made such an impression, that we then had the theme from Prince of Thieves as our first dance at our wedding.

Yes, it was just one tree, but like so many other things, it held a special place in the hearts and minds of many, many people.