“We’re still devastated by it,” said Catherine Cape, who runs a small guest cabin nearby. “I can’t drive past it. … I just don’t like looking at the space there.”

Cape will be among those paying attention this week when prosecutors in Newcastle Crown Court begin presenting their case Monday against two men accused of toppling the famous Sycamore Gap tree and damaging the ancient wall.

Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, have pleaded not guilty to two counts each of criminal damage. Prosecutors said the value of the tree exceeded 620,000 pounds ($826,000) and damage to the wall was assessed at 1,100 pounds ($1,466).

  • datavoid@lemmy.ml
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    10 hours ago

    A criminal prosecution for cutting down a tree is rare and the potential for any prison time for such an offense — not to mention that the maximum penalty for criminal damage is 10 years behind bars — is possibly unprecedented, said attorney Sarah Dodd who specializes in tree law.

    Is tree law related to bird law?

    • MehBlah@lemmy.world
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      4 hours ago

      Tree law is a very serious business. Often resulting in huge penalties for those who violate it.

        • MehBlah@lemmy.world
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          2 hours ago

          A man in our town took it upon himself to clean up a property next door to him. It was owned by old fart who yelled at a lot of clouds, probably. He sued and got a six figure settlement for five trees that were cut down.
          Here is a website that gets right to the point. Beware it popped a scummy lawsuit ad on me

          https://treelaws.org/

        • turtlesareneat@discuss.online
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          4 hours ago

          “Oh dear, my neighbor’s badly neglected oak tree is now bisecting my house. Since it’s not raining, that’s my fault.”

        • GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca
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          8 hours ago

          If tree law in the UK is anything like tree law in the US, they could be looking at treble or quadruple damages for that. And if they’re criminally convicted, the civil suit will be a slam dunk.

          These dumbasses may not be able to own anything nice for the rest of their lives.