[Abernathy]

Two absolute brain-dead morons have been found guilty of felling the venerable sycamore tree that used to stand in the gap between two promontories next to the ancient Cumbrian monument of Hadrian’s Wall, and there has been much media phone-in sturm und drang and gnashing of teeth about what should happen to the two fuck-witted perpetrators wnen sentence is pronounced - oddly not until July.

At least one phone-in outraged guy on LBC this morning was insistent that they should be given 10 years each in chokey (which apart from anything else would cost the public purse, and our already congested prison system, hundreds of thousands of pounds). But, really ? For chopping down a tree? Albeit an “iconic” tree. Nobody was hurt or killed. There was a bit of damage, but not that much other than the loss of a quite beautiful tree.

I can understand why people are outraged and angry at these wankers. I was myself, when I heard the news.

But if our justice system has to be something better than just concerned with retribution, shouldn’t we be looking at a sentence that affords reparation, and maybe a degree of rehabilitation?

Wouldn’t several thousand hours of community service - possibly, appropriately, tree - planting, be much better ?

[Dalem Lake]

Kind of baffled by all the coverage about this tree tbh. It's only claim to fame seems to be that it was in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.

[kreuzberger]

Well that settles it. Hang the bastards!

[Samanfur]

Cut their hearts out. With a spoon.

[Bones McCoy]

A blunt rusty spoon.

And that's just for looking like Reform candidates.

[Andy McDandy]

How many other trees have had Kevin Costner and Michael Wincott beating the shit out of each other under their branches while Morgan Freeman looks on?