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The tree was illegally felled in the early morning of 28 September 2023. Northumbria Police described the felling of the tree as "an act of vandalism". Two men from Cumbria, aged 38 and 31, were arrested in October 2023 and charged in April 2024 with criminal damage both to the tree and to the adjacent Hadrian's Wall. Their trial began on 28 April 2025 at Newcastle Crown Court and they were found guilty on 9 May. Both men were sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in prison on 15 July 2025.
The stump has thrown up basal shoots and is still alive, albeit severely coppiced; the tree is expected to take more than 150 years to recover. Cuttings were also gathered from the tree.