Man again denies felling Sycamore Gap tree

Image source, PA Media

Image caption, Unlike previous hearings, Daniel Graham did not cover his face when entering and leaving the court

A man has again denied illegally felling the UK's most famous tree.

Daniel Graham is one of two people accused of causing damage estimated at more than 拢620,000 at Sycamore Gap, in Northumberland, last September.

The 38-year-old, from Carlisle, Cumbria, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court for a pre-trial hearing and also denied causing damage of about 拢1,150 to Hadrian's Wall when it was hit by the tree.

He will face a trial in December alongside fellow Cumbrian man Adam Carruthers, 31, from Wigton, who pleaded not guilty to both offences at an earlier hearing.

The trial is expected to last for at least 10 days.

Both the tree and the wall were said to belong to the National Trust.

During the hearing, Mr Graham, who did not cover his face when he walked into court, unlike on previous occasions, was formally arraigned on the charges and denied both of them.

He was granted conditional bail ahead of a further pre-trial hearing on 11 November.

Image source, National Trust/Bec Hughes

Image caption, The felled tree landed on a neighbouring section of Hadrian's Wall

The felling of the much-photographed tree, which had stood next to the Roman wall since the late 1800s, caused an international outpouring of shock.

It had been popular with visitors and tourists, with millions of people travelling to the site.

It also featured in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner.

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