FIVE men have denied charges including blackmail and false imprisonment in a plot alleged to be centred around a former Southampton night club.

Adam Marjason, was the final defendant to appear at the city crown court in connection with the case. He faced four allegations which he denied.

Marjason, 35, of Barrington Close, Eastleigh, was accused of conspiring with his co-defendants between February 1 and March 1 last year to make "an unwarranted demand of Jon Wood with menaces" for the surrender of the lease of the Rhino Club that used to operate from premises in Waterloo Terrace.

He also faced charges that with his co-accused he assaulted and injuriously imprisoned Rhino Club employees Louis Cool, Timothy Carl and Helton Shosharis and detained them against their will.

The other four defendants had pleaded not guilty at an earlier hearing.

They are Robin Felgate, 71, of the Straight Mile, Ampfield; Satbir Giany, 43, of Salt Mead, Southampton, and Youssef Boutayeb, 30 and Trevor Ndikanwu, 26, who both have London addresses.

Felgate is the free holder of the premises and at the time of the allegations Giany worked at the premises as a supervisor.

All the defendants are on bail and their trial has been fixed for mid-August. It is expected to last two weeks.

The prosecution allege the defendants held the three Rhino Club employees at the premises until Mr Wood, who was the lease holder, arrived and forced him to sign a piece of paper to hand over the lease.

The charges follow a major police probe last year which led to the force's licensing department applying to the city council to revoke the premises licence.

The matter was discussed behind closed door but afterwards the council issued a statement saying it had "no option" to take away the licence "in order to protect the public and those who might be caught in the crossfire as well as address the risk of further incident at the premises."