UK - Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian's Wall 'felled overnight', Sept 2023 *arrests*

[CocktailQueen]

They sound like such lovely blokes don’t they?

Sycamore Gap pair were investigated over homophobic attacks - BBC News

The victim of an assault just days before the tree felling says the men were in the police's sights.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[SusanDonim]

Anyone got any guesses as to what they'll get?

I'm thinking around 3 years. Depends on any previous, I guess?

Alan Robertshaw who runs the Art of Law channel is saying about 2 years.

Yellowbelly helpfully posted a link to the relevant sentencing guidelines here.

These are the sentencing guidelines for criminal damage with a value of more than £5000. Given what we've heard so for, I think anyone convicted would be judged to have high culpability and have caused serious harm, so the start point would be 18 months in prison, which could be increased up to 4 years depending on aggravating and mitigating factors.

Criminal damage (other than by fire) value exceeding £5,000/ Racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage – Sentencing

www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk

I feel it falls into A - High Culpability and Category 1 for Harm, so hopefully close to 4 years.

I think these aggravating factors are met:

• Damaged items of great value to the victim (whether economic, commercial, sentimental or personal value)
• (possibly) Commission of offence whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Damage caused to heritage and/or cultural assets
• Established evidence of community/wider impact

I think the only mitigating factor that can be taken into account is "No previous convictions or no relevant/recent convictions." They've not shown "Remorse" and I very much doubt they will be considered to have "Positive character and/or exemplary conduct (regardless of previous convictions)"