Men who cut down the sycamore in Sycamore Gap in court

They shouldn’t be in prison at all.

That's still a year and eight months even if they behave and get parole. Quite a long time and the tax payer has to foot the bill.

Granarchist

Oreo is right. Round here swathes of oak trees have been felled for HS2 - it is absolutely heart wrenching. If I had felled one I would be (rightly) prosecuted. Sycamores are fast growing and not only that, the seed pods are fatally poisonous to many animals - this hysteria over one sycamore is ridiculous. I agree they shouldn't have done it but HS2 is causing real decimation of the landcape and nobody is held to account for it.

I don’t agree Granachrist, it wasn’t their tree to fell. They are just spineless idiots!

I think they have been made an example to others who may think that cutting down trees is fun. I remember seeing this tree for the first time at Hadrian’s Wall and knowing I’d seen it before. It wasn’t until I saw it in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves that I realised where I’d seen it before. It was pretty iconic here in the NE, rather like The Angel of the North.

If Community Service was run properly then this would have been a suitable outcome for a longer sentence. However, this was pure vandalism and I’m happy with the sentence.

It wasn’t only the chopping down of the tree but the resulting damage to Hadrian’s wall- an ancient and important monument which I presume the accused did not care about either.
It’s a while since I last walked along the Wall path, but if I remember correctly, sycamore gap is not near an access road- it can usually only be reached on foot- so plenty of time to sober up and rethink!
As to the sentence- prison seemed a bit inappropriate- but as they both must have known better ( worked in land management and ?local) I presume the judge knew more than we do- or had few options? Perhaps the two men would have been at risk if given community service? And that thought is distressing!

Margiknot

It wasn’t only the chopping down of the tree but the resulting damage to Hadrian’s wall- an ancient and important monument which I presume the accused did not care about either.
It’s a while since I last walked along the Wall path, but if I remember correctly, sycamore gap is not near an access road- it can usually only be reached on foot- so plenty of time to sober up and rethink!
As to the sentence- prison seemed a bit inappropriate- but as they both must have known better ( worked in land management and ?local) I presume the judge knew more than we do- or had few options? Perhaps the two men would have been at risk if given community service? And that thought is distressing!

Yes, didn’t think of that (people attacking them)