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

February 11:

Phillip John Andrew Mclean, 39, of Mount Lane, Bracknell, admitted to possession of a controlled drug of Class B, namely cannabis/cannabis resin. He also admitted to using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third-party insurance, drink-driving and failing without reasonable cause to surrender to custody at Reading Magistrates’ Court, having been released on bail in criminal proceedings. A community order was made and he must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 20 days. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 46 months and he was ordered to pay costs of £85. An order was made by the court for the destruction of the drugs.

Allan Andrewartha, 38, of Venning Road, Arborfield, admitted to using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third-party insurance and driving while disqualified and was fined £636. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for six months and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £63.

Luke Cameron, 19, Hart Close, Bracknell, admitted to possession of a controlled drug of Class B, namely cannabis/cannabis resin and was fined £80. He was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30. An order was made by the court for the destruction of the drugs.

Youba Bensadoune, 35, of Batty’s Barn Close, Wokingham, admitted to assault by beating and was found guilty of racially aggravated use of threatening/abusive/disorderly behaviour, likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. He was fined a total of £350, ordered to pay compensation of £100, costs of £400 and a surcharge of £30.

Ricky Cooper, 20, of Jennets Park, Bracknell, admitted failing without reasonable excuse to comply with a community requirement of a suspended sentence order made by Reading Magistrates’ Court by failing without reasonable excuse to work as instructed, failing to keep in touch and failing to provide evidence. The suspended sentence order was varied and he was committed to prison for four months, suspended for 12 months. A curfew order of 28 days was imposed and the original requirements of a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and unpaid work will continue.

February 12:

Stephen Blake, 55, of Abbotsbury, Bracknell, admitted to drink-driving and possessing a controlled drug of Class A, namely cocaine. He was fined a total of £230 and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £40 and a surcharge of £30. An order was made for the destruction of the drugs.

February 13:

Kelly Millns, 31, of Scott Terrace, Bracknell, admitted to assaulting a person, thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm. She was fined £210, ordered to pay compensation of £750 and a surcharge of £30.

Charlie Thomas Burgess, 22, of Blagrove Drive, Wokingham, admitted to being drunk and disorderly in a public place and was fined £40. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

February 14:

Jimmy Shaun Frankham, 21, of Cart Hill Park, Binfield, denied possession of an offensive weapon and was found guilty. He admitted to failing without reasonable cause to surrender to custody at at Reading Magistrates’ having been released on bail. A community order was made and he must take part in a Programme Requirement for 30 days and a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 30 days. He was ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months and an order was made by the court for the destruction of the knife. He was fined £100, ordered to pay costs of £200 and a surcharge of £85.

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 and as a deterrent to perjury.