UPDATE: A shocking turn of events has emerged in the Sycamore Gap tree felling case as police uncovered incriminating video evidence on the phone of convict Daniel Graham. Just moments after he declared, “I’ve got nothing to hide,” detectives stumbled upon a damning recording showing the notorious incident that occurred on the night of September 28, 2023.
The video, discovered by Det Cons Kim Read, captures the moment the iconic tree in Northumberland was cut down under the cover of darkness. Graham had voluntarily handed over his phone to authorities during his arrest, providing the device’s PIN in a bid to prove his innocence. Within minutes, however, Det Cons Read located the pivotal footage still stored in Graham’s camera roll, leading to a breakthrough in the investigation.
“This was a lightbulb moment,” Det Cons Read revealed, expressing her surprise at the ease of the discovery. The recording, timestamped at 00:32, immediately raised alarms when its metadata confirmed the location as Sycamore Gap. Det Cons Read noted the chain saw sounds and a tree cracking audible in the clip, raising suspicions about the activities of both Graham and his accomplice, Adam Carruthers.
Graham and Carruthers, both tree surgeons, initially denied any wrongdoing. In his first police interview, Graham claimed he couldn’t recall the events of that night and distanced himself from the crime. Carruthers similarly insisted he had never cut down a tree and did not own a chainsaw. However, as the investigation progressed, Graham began to shift blame, admitting Carruthers worked for him while avoiding direct accountability.
By May 2024, the case was set for court. Despite neither suspect admitting guilt during police questioning, the investigation team remained confident in their evidence. Ultimately, after a lengthy legal battle, Graham and Carruthers were sentenced to four years and three months in prison.
Det Cons Read emphasized the collective effort of the investigation team, stating, “All we wanted, from the police point of view, was a guilty verdict for all the hard work we had done.” The community had also closely followed the case, with heightened media interest and public investment in the outcome.
As the Sycamore Gap Mystery documentary is set to air tonight on Channel 4 at 9 PM, Det Cons Read expressed pride in the project, calling it fair and factual. “Everyone’s excited,” she said, reflecting on the public’s fascination with the case, which has resonated deeply within the community.
This latest development underscores the importance of digital evidence in modern investigations and highlights the ongoing repercussions of the crime against a beloved natural landmark. The public remains eager for the documentary’s insights, which promise to delve deeper into the emotional and community impact of the tree’s destruction.
Stay tuned as more updates unfold in this gripping case that continues to capture national attention.
