Northumbria Police: The Sycamore Gap Tree

The Situation

The Sycamore Gap Tree was an incredibly popular landmark that once stood in the dip next to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumbria. On the morning of the 28^th of September 2023, it had been reported that the tree had been chopped down overnight, initiating an investigation and significant media attention.

Identifying a few suspects in the area, the team required an innovative solution that could provide precise and reliable data on digital and specifically cellular activity in the area.

The process

Forensic Analytics provided Northumbria Police with CSAS software that helped them gather information and build a digital map pinning a key suspect. Number plate recognition cameras had identified that suspect Daniel Graham’s Range Rover had been driven to a nearby car park at the relevant time.

The movement of Graham’s phone was then tracked using call detail records of the phone’s use of telephone network masts. After being processed and mapped in our CSAS software, the information indicated that the phone had travelled east from the Carlisle area, before being switched off.

The software was then utilised to evidentially exhibit what was obtained post arrest. The software enabled the team to produce clear and understandable evidence that ultimately assisted in the jury finding the defendants guilty.

The outcome

Thanks to the hard work of the team at Northumbria Police, with the aid of CSAS both men have been found guilty on two counts of criminal damage, and were sentenced on the 15^th of July 2025. The defendants were sentenced to 4 years and three months imprisonment, respectively, with an additional 6 month concurrent imprisonment for the damage to Hadrian's wall.