Man beaten after faeces in handbag incident

File photo / NZH

A man who scooped up human faeces and put them in a woman's handbag at a camp ground in the Marlborough Sounds was severely beaten, police say.

The 58-year-old Wellington man was allegedly knocked unconscious and kicked in the head while he was lying on the ground.

Senior Constable Andrew Wilson, of Havelock police, told the Marlborough Express people needed to realise the "quite horrific" consequences of kicking someone while they were down.

A 20-year-old male forestry worker was arrested at Cowshed Bay camp ground, at Portage Bay, on Sunday morning, along with a 21-year-old female factory hand, of Blenheim. The man was charged with injuring with intent, while the woman was charged with common assault, Mr Wilson said.

They were to appear in Blenheim District Court on December 13.

Mr Wilson said the victim would also likely face charges in connection with the incident, and other people were also likely to be charged.

He said the incident erupted after the older man went to confront a group of young campers about playing loud music.

The man couldn't see anyone at the campsite and, in a "bolt of lightning to his head", he saw a pile of human faeces, scooped them up with a shovel and put them in a handbag on the front seat of a car.

Mr Wilson said someone had seen him, and police believed members of the group found and beat him.

The man was taken to Wairau Hospital, in Blenheim, where he was treated for concussion and cuts on his face stitched.

- NZPA