I think you'd have to either sedate or tie the person you wanted to hit with that thing down. It seems like it wouldn't move too swiftly? Or at least not fast enough they couldn't get out of the way and I'm guessing it makes too much noise to sneak up on someone. But that adds sedation and/or tying them up to the fun of hitting them with a shovel!!
Edit: Oh, and he totally deserves the torture of either sedation or ropes anyway. *growls*
Edit: Oh, and he totally deserves the torture of either sedation or ropes anyway. *growls*