Sycamore Gap Tree Feller Adam Carruthers Released Early Under Home Detention Curfew

Adam Carruthers, 33, from Wigton, Cumbria, was released from prison on March 15 under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme. Following his release, Carruthers is required to wear an electronic tag and must remain at his registered address for between nine and 12 hours daily. Carruthers has resumed employment at Cumbria Turf in Kirkbride, which was listed as his workplace during court proceedings.

When asked by ITV News, he confirmed he was pleased to be free and stated he had returned to work. In September 2023, Carruthers and Daniel Graham, 40, traveled approximately 40 miles from the Carlisle area to the Sycamore Gap tree, where Carruthers operated a chainsaw to cut it down.

The destruction was recorded by Graham on his phone, and the footage showed the tree toppling onto Hadrian's Wall, causing significant damage.

Carruthers and Graham were convicted in May 2025 and sentenced to four years and three months each by Mrs Justice Lambert. They were informed they would serve a maximum of 40 percent of their sentence, which would have kept Carruthers in prison until January 2027 at the earliest.

The Home Detention Curfew Scheme allows eligible prisoners to be released after completing half of their reduced custodial period.

The destruction of the Sycamore Gap tree caused £622,191 in damage, while Hadrian's Wall sustained £1,144 in damage. Both sites are owned by the National Trust, and Hadrian's Wall is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A Ministry of Justice spokesman stated that anyone released into Home Detention Curfew faces strict licence conditions and must be tagged, with the possibility of returning to prison for rule violations.