Police incident: Fareham man, 39, to appear in court over battery of teenage boy in Superdrug store in Chichester, Sussex

By Joe Buncle
Published 21st Sep 2023, 19:04 BST
Updated 21st Sep 2023, 20:09 BST
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Two men will appear in court for false imprisonment and battery of a 15-year-old boy during an incident at a Superdrug store.

Jake De-Geus, 29, from Chichester and Edwin Hirst, 39, from Fareham will appear at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on October 24.

The summons comes as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised charges in connection with the incident in East Street, Chichester on March 22, 2023. Hirst has also been charged with battery against a 16-year-old boy from Chichester.

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At the time of the incident, the 15-year-old boy from Worthing, and the 16-year-old were arrested for assault but no charges were brought by the CPS due to insufficient evidence.

The two men will appear in court following the incident. (Picture: Peter Byrne via PA)The two men will appear in court following the incident. (Picture: Peter Byrne via PA)
The two men will appear in court following the incident. (Picture: Peter Byrne via PA)

A video circulated in March appeared to show a 15-year-old boy being restrained and handcuffed by two civilian security staff, with one kneeling across his legs.

David Owen, senior crown prosecutor for CPS South East, said: “The charges were authorised by the CPS after receiving a full file of evidence from Sussex Police.

“Criminal proceedings against Mr De-Geus and Mr Hirst are now active, and they have the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”