Two men facing trial accused of Sycamore Gap damage

Appearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Daniel Michael Graham, 38, of Milbeck Stables, Carlisle, denied both charges, relating to both the familiar 130-year-old tree in Northumberland, and the Roman-built wall, itself, a Unesco World Heritage site.

He had previously indicated not guilty pleas when appearing before Newcastle magistrates, earlier in the case, in May.

His co-accused, 32-year-old Adam Carruthers, of the Old Fuel Depot, in Wigton, Cumbria, pleaded not guilty to both charges at the first hearing at the crown court, in June.

(Image: Owen Humphreys/PA)

He was excused from today’s hearing, although his counsel, Andrew Gurney, did attend the short hearing.

The tree, which has appeared in many TV and film scenes, including the 1991 Hollywood blockbuster Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, was felled overnight from September 28/29, last year.

(Image: PA)

It is alleged that the felling of the tree caused £622,191 damage and the damage to the wall was put at £1,144.

Both the tree and wall are overseen by the National Trust.

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Judge Paul Sloan, the Recorder of Newcastle, has previously set a timetable in the case to include a pre-trial hearing on November 11, with a trial due to start on December 3, given a time-estimate of ten-days-plus.

Chris Knox, representing Graham, was told by Judge Sloan that a formal signed defence statement must be submitted to the court by Friday this week.

Bailing Graham, the judge said both he and his co-accused should be present at the court for the pre-trial hearing on November 11.