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

February 4:

Steven Grant Norton, 32, of Merryhill Road, Bracknell, admitted to two counts of theft from a shop, namely stealing a blood pressure monitor, to the value of £44.99 belonging to Boots and alcohol to the value of £180 belonging to J. Sainsbury’s PLC. He was committed to prison for 16 weeks, suspended for 12 months. He must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 25 days. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £44.99.

Charlie Pearce, 20, of Budges Road, Wokingham, admitted to burglary other than a dwelling and commission of a further offence while subject to a conditional discharge order. He was dealt with for original offences, namely four counts of causing criminal damage to property valued under £5,000. He was committed to prison for a total of 24 weeks, suspended for 12 months.

February 5:

Joseph Brian Horan, 81, of Tilehurst Lane, Binfield, was found guilty of speeding and was fined £200. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for six months and made to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

Emma Louise Cowie, 33, of Downshire Way, Bracknell, was found guilty of using a motor vehicle on a road or public place without third-party insurance. She was fined £300 and was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for six months. She was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

Gavin Dunbar, 82, of Loddon Drive, Wokingham, admitted to driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road/in a public place without due care and attention. He was fined £202 and had his driving licence endorsed with six penalty points. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

February 6:

Faith Christina Nahaboo, 23, of Springfield House, Crowthorne, admitted to assault by beating and received a community order. She must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 20 days and carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. She was also ordered to pay compensation of £200, costs of £100 and a surcharge of £85.

Susan Ditchburn, 64, of Peartree Walk, Spencers Wood, admitted to drink-driving and was fined £380. She was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 16 months and she was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £38.

February 7:

Kai Sawyer, 25, of Ashfield Way, Wokingham, denied assault by beating and was found guilty. A community order was made and he must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 20 days. He was ordered to pay costs of £300 and a surcharge of £85.

Robert Greenacre, 28, of Venning Road, Arborfield, admitted to assault by beating, causing criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 and commission of a further offence while being subject to a conditional discharge order. He was committed to prison for 12 weeks and was ordered to pay surcharge of £115.

February 8:

John Anthony Searle, 45, of no fixed abode, admitted to theft from a shop, namely stealing two jackets to the value of £398 belong to Marks & Spencer in Bracknell. He was fined £80 and ordered to pay compensation of £380.

Javlin Transport Ltd, of Whitewoods Farm, Warfield, was proven to have used an unlicensed vehicle. The company was fined £440, ordered to pay vehicle excise back duty of £134.59 and costs of £200.

A fundamental principle of justice is that it must be seen to be done. It is established in the UK that court cases should be heard in public.

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.

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