Sycamore gap tree felled - Words Fail Me

[skwdenyer]

Silvanus said:

Sycamore is actually a really nice finishing timber and a very good alternative to imported maple. In a past life we used it in a very grand hotel refurbishment instead of maple. Client loved it as it was UK sourced and cheaper, looked great. I come across a lot of sites coppicing sycamore and an awful lot is being grown for the firewood market. With so many UK trees getting hit with various pest and diseases a lot of people are coming round to sycamore.

Username checks out

[Silvanus]

skwdenyer said:

Silvanus said:

Sycamore is actually a really nice finishing timber and a very good alternative to imported maple. In a past life we used it in a very grand hotel refurbishment instead of maple. Client loved it as it was UK sourced and cheaper, looked great. I come across a lot of sites coppicing sycamore and an awful lot is being grown for the firewood market. With so many UK trees getting hit with various pest and diseases a lot of people are coming round to sycamore.

Username checks out

Well spotted, I usually get called an arse.

[pavarotti1980]

Both plead not guilty. Trial date set for December 3 and expected to last 10 days
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-ne...

[otolith]

I'd love to know what the motive of the perpetrators was. I guess we will find out what the crown thinks the motives of these two were when it goes to court.

[vaud]

pavarotti1980 said:

Both plead not guilty. Trial date set for December 3 and expected to last 10 days
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-ne...

How can a trial for cutting down a tree last 10 days???

[sugerbear]

vaud said:

pavarotti1980 said:

Both plead not guilty. Trial date set for December 3 and expected to last 10 days
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-ne...

How can a trial for cutting down a tree last 10 days???

because it's complicated.

[pavarotti1980]

vaud said:

How can a trial for cutting down a tree last 10 days???

Imagine it may be the attributed value and potential "complex" evidence.

I think the judge, prosecution and defence counsel will be in a better place to know how long they will take to present their cases

[vaud]

pavarotti1980 said:

Imagine it may be the attributed value and potential "complex" evidence.

I think the judge, prosecution and defence counsel will be in a better place to know how long they will take to present their cases

Sure, just seemed in my naive mind to be a long time.

[pavarotti1980]

vaud said:

Sure, just seemed in my naive mind to be a long time.

Knowing the area and the only witnesses most likely to have already been on sunday dinner plates it may involve a lot of digital evidence

[vaud]

Ahh, also my bad as I skim read.

£622,191 value.

[Lotobear]

otolith said:

I'd love to know what the motive of the perpetrators was. I guess we will find out what the crown thinks the motives of these two were when it goes to court.

Some quick internet sleuthing this morning reveals that one of the accused has a 'horsey' interest and was recently knocked back by planners on an application for a certificate of lawfulness for an illegally placed caravan - well I never.

And, by some very strange coincidence, the land in question is in the Hadrians Wall World Heritage site, albeit some 30 or so miles west of the scene of the crime.

.....mmmm, make of that what you will.

[pavarotti1980]

Lotobear said:

Some quick internet sleuthing this morning reveals that one of the accused has a 'horsey' interest and was recently knocked back by planners on an application for a certificate of lawfulness for an illegally placed caravan - well I never.

And, by some very strange coincidence, the land in question is in the Hadrians Wall World Heritage site, albeit some 30 or so miles west of the scene of the crime.

.....mmmm, make of that what you will.

Interesting bail conditions to not interfere or communicate with prosecution witnesses. Sound a lovely pair of chaps.

[otolith]

Lotobear said:

Some quick internet sleuthing this morning reveals that one of the accused has a 'horsey' interest and was recently knocked back by planners on an application for a certificate of lawfulness for an illegally placed caravan - well I never.

And, by some very strange coincidence, the land in question is in the Hadrians Wall World Heritage site, albeit some 30 or so miles west of the scene of the crime.

.....mmmm, make of that what you will.

So spiteful vandalism, essentially?

[sugerbear]

otolith said:

Lotobear said:

Some quick internet sleuthing this morning reveals that one of the accused has a 'horsey' interest and was recently knocked back by planners on an application for a certificate of lawfulness for an illegally placed caravan - well I never.

And, by some very strange coincidence, the land in question is in the Hadrians Wall World Heritage site, albeit some 30 or so miles west of the scene of the crime.

.....mmmm, make of that what you will.

So spiteful vandalism, essentially?

I can't see any other reason, it wasn't a publicity stunt or some type of social media thing as it was never publicised. It wasn't pissed up youths as they would have left obvious damage and would almost certainly have been apprehended shortly after.

Just a couple of tools sticking it to the man, whilst underestimating the blowback that would come with it.

[Pincher]

What’s the potential sentence for something like this, assuming they’re found guilty?

[otolith]

Pincher said:

What’s the potential sentence for something like this, assuming they’re found guilty?

[vaud]

Pincher said:

What’s the potential sentence for something like this, assuming they’re found guilty?

I think...

Criminal damage (other than by fire) value exceeding £5,000, Criminal Damage Act 1971, s.1(1)

Triable either way
Maximum: 10 years’ custody
Offence range: Discharge – 4 years’ custody

[Lotobear]

Pincher said:

What’s the potential sentence for something like this, assuming they’re found guilty?

Up to 4 years custodial and I noted that the judge has already commented that, given the gravity of the offence, it could be towards the top end of the range.

[Louis Balfour]

Lotobear said:

Pincher said:

What’s the potential sentence for something like this, assuming they’re found guilty?

Up to 4 years custodial and I noted that the judge has already commented that, given the gravity of the offence, it could be towards the top end of the range.

How is he / she quantifying gravity?

[Lotobear]

Louis Balfour said:

Lotobear said:

Pincher said:

What’s the potential sentence for something like this, assuming they’re found guilty?

Up to 4 years custodial and I noted that the judge has already commented that, given the gravity of the offence, it could be towards the top end of the range.

How is he / she quantifying gravity?

Don't know, just relaying what was said in the local press - the operative word she is quoted on might actually have been 'seriousness' rather than gravity. Probably based on the status of the site, heritage value I guess but who knows?