“A Wellington couple saw red when their nine-year-old son came home clutching a pen in the shape of a bloody syringe,” reports Stuff.co.nz.

“Joel Crampton was given the Hell Pizza pen as a prize at Upper Hutt’s H2O Xtream pool. On the side was written ‘Hell, creating addicts since 1996.’ The pen, complete with a plunger and fake blood, was appalling, Joel’s mum Mary Crampton said. ‘It’s a shocker of a prize. It looks like it’s full of blood. I was completely shocked. They must think drug taking is cool.’

“Joel’s father, Dave Crampton, said he was surprised the syringe-shaped pen was given out to a child. ‘I can see the funny side, it is quite clever, but I don’t think he’ll be taking the pen to class when school starts next week.’

“Upper Hutt City Council recreation services manager Mike Ryan said the pens were part of a sponsorship deal with Hell Pizza. ‘As a parent I can appreciate that it was not appropriate to give them away to children. It’s good that we were made aware of it.'”