A police officer told an inquest that she does not think two security guards used excessive force when they restrained a drunken man.

PC Ceri Ortiz was one of two officers called to the Stowfield business park on June 22, 2016 after Solihull plasterer Mark Kentish, 55, allegedly tried to tear down fencing and was tackled by the guards.

A Gloucester inquest heard that the officers arrived at the Wye Valley location to find him being held by Peter Whiteside and Carl Warren.

"One of the guards had his right arm on Mr Kentish's shoulder and the other one was using his knee to hold him," said PC Ortiz.

"I didn't think it was with excessive force."

Mr Kentish had driven his black Range Rover right up to the gatehouse and then reversed it back along the road where he got out and began tearing at fencing surrounding an electricity substation, jurors have been told.

It was then that Mr Warren confronted Mr Kentish and called his colleague over to help.

The inquest earlier heard he had punched Mr Warren, was shouting and drunk.

Mr Whiteside took Mr Kentish to the ground and the pair were holding him when the police arrived.

The inquest heard he had sustained an injury to his right eye which the security guards claimed he had sustained by banging his own head against the ground.

"His eyes were open and he seemed alert," said PC Ortiz.

"I formed the opinion he was drunk and I could hear drunken slurring," she added.

"Both security guards seemed quite scared."

A security guard (file image)

She managed to put handcuffs on Mr Kentish with the help of PC Clarke. She then took Mr Kentish's pulse, using her watch, and it was around 60 beats per minute.

"I was happy his airway was clear and his breathing was steady," she said.

PC Mike Chard arrived and because there were now enough police officers they decided to take off his handcuffs. Mr Kentish's condition deteriorated, the inquest heard.

PC Ortiz described both security guards as looking "grimy" and said they were not wearing uniforms or high visibility vests.

Mr Whiteside kept talking to her, she said.

"It was as if he was trying to justify himself to me - he kept repeating himself," the officer said.

Police started CPR on Mr Kentish at around 11.15pm.

"I did the breath while PC Ortiz and PC Clarke did the compressions," said PC Chard.

Sergeant Mark Burns also attended the scene.

He said: "It was a very bizarre situation - it was the middle of the week."

Mark Harris, lead paramedic for South West Ambulance Service, was also there.

"CPR was being performed to good effect," he reported.

Ambulance crews administered adrenalin and oxygen but they failed to get Mr Kentish's heart beating again and he was pronounced dead at 12.13am.

The inquest continues and the jury is expected to be sent out on Wednesday to consider its verdict.