Hedgehog used as weapon. Don’t blame Sonic!

A bizarre case of assault with a ‘weapon’ occurred in New Zealand over the weekend when a man assaulted a teenager with a hedgehog.

A bizarre case of assault with a ‘weapon’ occurred in New Zealand over the weekend when a 27 year old Whakatane resident assaulted a 15 year old boy with a hedgehog. Police allege the man, William Singalargh, picked up the hedgehog and threw it about 5m at the 15-year-old. It’s not known whether the attack was provoked or if the pair knew each other before the assault.

According to Senior Sergeant Bruce Jenkins, of Whakatane police:”It hit the victim in the leg, causing a large, red welt and several puncture marks,”. The man was arrested shortly after for assault.

Police would not confirm if alcohol was a contributing factor in the incident or whether the hedgehog was dead or alive at the time it was thrown, (however it was dead when the police returned to the park to collect the animal for evidence).

The alleged assailant will appear in Whakatane District Court on April 17 for a defended hearing on a charge of assault with a weapon. The maximum penalty is five years’ imprisonment.