The individual responsible for cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree has been released from prison after serving only 10 months of his four-year and three-month sentence. Adam Carruthers, aged 33, was imprisoned in May 2025 following his conviction alongside his former companion, Daniel Graham, aged 40, for causing damage to the beloved tree and Hadrian’s Wall in September 2023.
Carruthers used a chainsaw to fell the tree while Graham recorded the act. The duo had a falling out before their trial. Carruthers, hailing from Wigton, Cumbria, has now been granted early release under curfew with an electronic monitoring device. He has resumed his employment at Cumbria Turf in Kirkbride, the same company he worked for during his legal proceedings.
Expressing his contentment at being out of prison, Carruthers confirmed his return to work in an interview with ITV News. Steve Blair, the general manager of Twice Brewed Inn near Sycamore Gap, expressed astonishment at Carruthers’ return.
The pub, popular among Hadrian’s Wall walkers, houses a piece of the felled tree. Carruthers was released under the government’s Home Detention Curfew Scheme, allowing inmates to serve a portion of their sentence at home while being monitored.
Both Carruthers and Graham, residing near Carlisle, received sentences of four years and three months. They were informed by Mrs. Justice Lambert that they would serve a maximum of 40% of the sentence. However, under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme, prisoners can be released after serving half of their term. Carruthers was eligible for release on March 15 this year.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson emphasized the strict conditions imposed on individuals under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme to prevent any violations. Locals expressed dismay over Carruthers’ early release, citing the significant damage caused to the area’s heritage and culture by his actions.
Graham and Carruthers drove to the Sycamore Gap site from Carlisle, where they filmed the tree being cut down, leading to substantial damage to both the tree and Hadrian’s Wall. Neighbors described Carruthers as reckless, highlighting his association with Graham during the destructive incident.
The prosecution alleged that the duo took a piece of the tree as a souvenir, although it was never recovered. Judge Lambert held both individuals equally accountable for their actions when they were sentenced in July.