The following cases were heard at Reading and Slough Magistrates’ Court:

October 29:

Garry Murtagh-Clarke, 36, of Shelley Avenue, Bracknell, admitted to being in charge of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and was fined £200. He had his driving licence endorsed by 10 penalty points and was ordered to pay costs totalling £115.

November 12:

Arjun Singh Gill, 31, of Pheasant Close, Wokingham, admitted to using threatening/abusive words/behaviour or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. He was fined £396, ordered to pay costs of £375 and a surcharge of £40.

November 13:

John Edmond Howard, 50, of Easthampstead Mobile Home Park, Old Wokingham Road, Wokingham, admitted to three counts of sending a letter/communication/article conveying a threatening message. He was fined a total of £50, was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

John Raymond Whitmore, 55, of Bramley Road, Taunton, admitted to criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 and using threatening/abusive words/behaviour or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress at Wokingham. He was committed to prison for 14 weeks, suspended for 18 months. He will be required to take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 15 days and he must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. A restraining order was imposed by the court and he was ordered to pay costs totalling £435 and compensation of £100.

Robbie Paul Whitmore, 53, of Bramley Road, Taunton, admitted to using threatening/abusive words/behaviour or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress at Wokingham. He was committed to prison for 14 weeks, suspended for 18 months. He will be required to take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 15 days and he must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. A restraining order was imposed by the court and he was ordered to pay costs totalling £435 and compensation of £100.

November 14:

Emily Boyce, 22, of Fairview Avenue, Earley, admitted to drink-driving and was fined £250. She was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months and she was ordered to pay costs totalling £115.

November 15:

David Ashdown, 33, of Purbrook Court, Bracknell admitted to using a colour television without a licence and was fined £300. He was also ordered to pay costs of £120 and a surcharge of £30.

Keith Dirk Young, 40, of Brackendene Close, Woodley, failed to comply with a notification requirement as part of the sex offenders register. He was committed to prison for 24 weeks, suspended for two years and he will be required to take part in a Programmed Requirement for 30 days. He must also take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 15 days and he was ordered to pay costs totalling £200.

November 16:

Mark Anthony Connor, 44, of Deepfield Road, Bracknell, admitted to theft from a shop, namely stealing orange juice and champagne to the value of £146 belonging to Marks and Spencer. He also admitted to stealing two half legs of lamb and two Angus roasting joints to the value of £38.36 and failing without reasonable cause to surrender to surrender to custody at Reading Magistrates’ Court having been released on bail during criminal proceedings. He was committed to prison for six weeks and ordered to pay compensation of £184.36.

This principle of open justice is acclaimed on a number of grounds: as a safeguard against judicial error, as a deterrent to perjury, to assist the deterrent function of criminal trials and to permit the revelation of matters of public interest.