Two men are set to face charges after a thorough criminal investigation into an incident that unfolded at the Superdrug store on East Street, Chichester, on the 22nd of March, 2023.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has granted authorisation for charges of false imprisonment and battery against a 15-year-old boy from Worthing, with the accused identified as Jake De-Geus, aged 29, from Chichester, and Edwin Hirst, aged 39, hailing from Fareham in Hampshire.
Additionally, Edwin Hirst is facing another battery charge relating to a 16-year-old boy from Chichester.
The summons mandates both individuals to appear before the Worthing Magistrates’ Court on the 24th of October.
David Owen, the Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS South East, stated, “The charges were authorized 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.”
In a related development, on the 29th of June, the CPS determined that no charges should be brought against two boys, aged 15 and 16 at the time, who were initially arrested for assault at the scene of the incident, due to insufficient evidence.
