Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers previously testified at trial that they had nothing to do with the vandalism, but a prosecutor said that the two convicts now blame booze for the act as they admitted before sentencing that they had been on what he termed a “moronic mission” to topple the tree.

Two British men who felled the beloved Sycamore Gap tree that had stood nearly 150 years were sentenced Tuesday to four years and three months in prison, minus time served.