A security guard from Hampshire is accused of using "unjustified" force to detain two teenagers in a Superdrug shop.

Rangers Edwin Hirst, 40, from Fareham, and Jake De-Geus, 30, from Chichester, are both accused of the false imprisonment during the incident in the Chichester store on March 22, 2023.

It is alleged that De-Geus headbutted one of the teenagers during the incident.

Both defendants, who were contracted to work for Chichester Business Improvement District, are also accused of assault by beating of the teenager – and Hirst is accused of the assault of a second boy.

Paul Fairley, prosecuting, told Portsmouth Crown Court that the two complainants were with another friend were in the store looking to buy a bottle of shampoo when the two private security guards started following them.

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He said that the boys started “messing around” to “get a rise” out of the security guards, including putting a bottle in someone’s pocket.

The prosecutor said that De-Geus is accused of then headbutting the teenager, with the two defendants then using “unjustified” force to detain him and his friend.

Hirst is accused of punching the second complainant in the testicles.

Mr Fairley said the first complainant told police that the rangers began following them.

He added: “It’s accepted by the two defendants that they decided to follow them, staying very close to them, making sure that they weren’t doing anything or stealing anything.”

Mr Fairley said that the group of friends started “being cheeky or teasing and are trying to get a rise out of the two security guards, they started messing around”.

He added that as the security guards detained the two teenagers “there was an almighty struggle, stock was knocked from the shelves as (the complainant) was swung by Mr De-Geus into the stand”.

“Other members of staff came to see what the commotion was,” the prosecutor said.

He said that the friend “tried to pull the other security guard off and got a punch to the testicles for his trouble by Mr Hirst”.

Mr Fairley said De-Geus claimed that the first complainant “squared up” to him and headbutted him.

He added that the two security guards say they had a legal right to detain the two teenagers, the same as a citizen’s right to arrest someone for acting illegally.

The case comes after a video of the incident was circulated on social media.

The defendants deny the charges and the trial continues.