[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?

[davidjay]

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.

Every so often a crime gets a disproportionate amount of coverage because it appals Middle England - stealing a charity box, vandalising a flower bed or similar. At this point it becomes impossible to give a just sentence because it'll never be enough for some.

[Killer Whale]

Wiv the angles.

( https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... camore-gap )

[Samanfur]

A blunt rusty spoon.

And that's just for looking like Reform candidates.

My husband's horrified that the older one's the same age as him. They both look twenty years older.

[Bones McCoy]

A blunt rusty spoon.

And that's just for looking like Reform candidates.

My husband's horrified that the older one's the same age as him. They both look twenty years older.

The younger one looks like somebody who exists on an exclusive diet of crayons.

[mattomac]

I think community service like clearing dog turds up is probably suitable punishment.

But I have noticed this with other stories like this, the BBC 6pm news covered that old tree being cleared by a Toby Carvery. Yes it’s possibly a story but not on the main news and doesn’t need 3 days and a reporter on the scene on day three.