Fareham man in court over false imprisonment and assault of 15-year-old boy in Superdrug store in Chichester

By Steve Deeks
Published 24th Oct 2023, 12:12 BST
Updated 24th Oct 2023, 14:12 BST
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A Fareham man and another male have first appeared in court accused of the false imprisonment and assault of a 15-year-old boy in a Superdrug store in Chichester.

Edwin Hirst, 39, from Fareham, and Jake De-Geus, 29, from Chichester, are charged in relation to an incident in East Street, Chichester, on March 22. The pair were summoned to Worthing Magistrates’ Court today following charges brought by the Crown Prosecution Service in September.

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It comes after a video circulated in March showed a black 15-year-old boy being restrained and handcuffed by two civilian security staff, with one kneeling across his legs. Hirst has also been charged with assaulting a 16-year-old boy from Chichester.

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Edwin Hirst, 39, from Fareham, arriving at Worthing Magistrates' Court where he has been charged with with false imprisonment and battery of a 15-year-old boy from Worthing during an incident at a Superdrug store in East Street, Chichester on March 22, 2023. Pic: Gareth Fuller/PA WireEdwin Hirst, 39, from Fareham, arriving at Worthing Magistrates' Court where he has been charged with with false imprisonment and battery of a 15-year-old boy from Worthing during an incident at a Superdrug store in East Street, Chichester on March 22, 2023. Pic: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
Edwin Hirst, 39, from Fareham, arriving at Worthing Magistrates' Court where he has been charged with with false imprisonment and battery of a 15-year-old boy from Worthing during an incident at a Superdrug store in East Street, Chichester on March 22, 2023. Pic: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

De-Geus and Hirst spoke to confirm their names and addresses, and will next appear at Portsmouth Crown Court for a plea hearing on November 21.

The defendants were not employed by Superdrug and were working as Chichester BID rangers.