ADAM AND CHRISTOPHER HOAR HORRIBLY ABUSE HEDGEHOG IN SEAHAM

In a disturbing incident that shocked the local community, brothers Adam Hoar and Christopher Hoar from Seaham were caught on camera engaging in a brutal act of animal cruelty. The incident took place shortly after midnight on July 7, 2016, at the Dalton Park retail centre located in Murton, County Durham, which is near Seaham. The footage revealed the brothers repeatedly kicking a small hedgehog, treating it as if it were a football, in a manner that was both violent and callous.

Both men admitted to the charges of causing unnecessary suffering to a wild mammal, which is a violation of the Wild Mammals Protection Act. Adam Hoar, born on May 22, 1992, of Malvern Crescent, Seaham SR7 8BJ, initially claimed during police caution that they believed the hedgehog was a football, attempting to justify their actions. However, he later confessed to the truth of their cruelty.

District Judge Kristina Harrison expressed her outrage during the sentencing, stating, “I cannot see how anybody their size was doing anything other than torturing the hedgehog by kicking it around the place, using it as a football.” She emphasized the severity of the crime, highlighting that the animal was innocent and defenseless, and that its numbers in the wild are rapidly decreasing. The judge added, “This is a horrible case where you have tortured an animal who has hurt absolutely nobody and whose numbers in the wild are rapidly dwindling. If people feel horrified by the case, quite frankly they are absolutely right to do so.”

Outside the courtroom, RSPCA Inspector Helen Nedley, who led the investigation, described the brutality of the act. She explained that each brother kicked the hedgehog approximately five times, with one of the kicks so forceful that the creature was propelled into the air, causing one of the man's shoes to fly off. The injuries inflicted were severe, including broken ribs, a fractured pelvis, and a ruptured liver. Tragically, the hedgehog succumbed to its injuries in the presence of a witness.

Inspector Nedley condemned the cruelty, stating, “This kind of cruelty is abhorrent and I am glad that this was taken so seriously by the court today.”

In sentencing, the brothers were each jailed for six weeks and ordered to pay £250 in compensation. The case has sparked widespread outrage and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of animal protection laws and the need for accountability in cases of cruelty.