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

January 21:

Emma Catherine Ritchie, 20, of Gloucester Close, Lincoln, admitted to drink-driving on Station Hill in Ascot and was fined £2,500. She was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 24 months and was ordered to pay costs of £775 and a surcharge of £170.

Mark Banks, 48, of Ducketts Mead, Shinfield, admitted to failing to provide a specimen for analysis and was fined £200. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £300 and a surcharge of £30.

Jamie Paul Barrett, 30, of no fixed abode, admitted to eight counts of theft from a shop and was committed to prison for a total of 16 weeks. The offence was aggravated by the defendant’s record of previous offending. He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £115.

Stephen Connell, 36, of Selborne Avenue, Aldershot, admitted to two counts of theft from a shop in Bracknell, namely stealing meat products to the value of £91.27, belonging to Marks & Spencer. He was fined a total of £446 and ordered to pay compensation of £52.95. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

David Spicer, 53, of Mount Lane, Bracknell, admitted to possession o a controlled drug of Class B and received a conditional discharge of 12 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £45 and a surcharge of £20.

Stephen Allen Woledge, 41, of no fixed abode, admitted to two counts of possession of a controlled drug of Class A, namely heroin and cocaine. He was committed to prison for a total of seven days concurrent and an order was made for the destruction of the drugs. He was ordered to pay a surcharge of £115.

January 22:

Leigh-Anna Cheri Martin, 30, of no fixed abode, admitted to theft, namely stealing a handbag, and received a conditional discharge of 12 months. She was also ordered to pay costs of £20.

Martynas Andrisiunas, 42, of Lower Broadmoor Road, Crowthorne, admitted to assault by beating and was fined £150. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £85 and costs of £85.

January 23:

Connor Lee Smith, 18, of no fixed abode, admitted to causing criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 and common assault. A community order was made and he must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 12 days. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £50.

January 24:

Rhian Cox, 22, of Wood Green, Shinfield, admitted to drink-driving and was fined £120. She was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 15 months and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

January 25:

Zoe Everett, 24, of Pennfields, Twyford, admitted to theft from a shop, assault by beating, failing to surrender to custody at Reading Magistrates’ Court having been released on bail during criminal proceedings, commission of a further offence while subject to a conditional discharge order and two counts of failing without reasonable cause to surrender at Reading Magistrates’ Court. She was also dealt with for the original offence, for which she received the conditional discharge, namely theft from a shop. She was committed to prison for a total of 24 weeks and ordered to pay a surcharge of £115.

Ian Edward Southey, 47, of Waterloo Crescent, Wokingham, admitted to driving a large goods vehicle/passenger carrying vehicle when the gross laden weight exceeded the maximum permitted. He was fined £166, ordered to pay costs of £150 and a surcharge of £30.

A fundamental principle of justice is that it must be seen to be done.

The 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.