TEENAGER Lee Burden has been jailed for 90 days for roasting a hedgehog in a microwave oven.

The 18-year-old was sentenced by Henley magistrates yesterday TUESDAY after admitting burning a hedgehog with intent to cause unnecessary suffering.

Burden, who was studying at Rycotewood College, Thame, put the hedgehog in a microwave oven last June.

He had found the animal at the college gates and carried it into the kitchen at his hall of residence, where he was egged on by pals to put it into the microwave.

According to the RSPCA, the animal had suffered a painful, lingering death after effectively being roasted. The college has since expelled the mechanics student.

The court had heard that other students went into the kitchen and saw smoke pouring from the microwave.

Burden, from Erdington, Birmingham, said in a police interview: "There were loads of people crowding around so there were quite a few people involved.

"After the microwave door closed I heard this bleep. Then I just walked out of the kitchen and ran to a friend's room. I made no attempt to get it out from there because I would have got my head kicked in."

An RSPCA spokesman said the case was one of the first to be brought under recent legislation, the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, which is designed to prevent deliberate cruelty to wild animals.

She said: "We are delighted that the courts have recognised the seriousness of the offence and meted out a suitable pun- ishment.

"We hope that this sentence will provide a deterrent to people who have been able to get away with such offences."

Vet Ian Paine said that the hedgehog would have suffered an intensely painful death as its blood congealed.

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