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

February 18:

Charlie Pearce, 21, of Budges Road, Wokingham, admitted to five counts of causing criminal damage to property, entering as a trespasser and stealing wine and gammon to the value of £70, stealing a pedal cycle, theft from a shop and commission of a further offence while subject to a conditional discharge order imposed by Berkshire Magistrates’ Court. He was committed to prison for a total of 24 weeks, suspended for 12 months. He must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 30 days. He was also ordered to pay costs of £150 and compensation of £100.

Lisa Claire Gillingham, 43, of Windermere Way, Thatcham, admitted to driving while disqualified and using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third-party insurance in Bracknell and received a community order. She must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 25 days. She had her driving licence endorsed with six penalty points and was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £85.

Cian Corcoran, 30, of Bath Road, Hare Hatch, denied driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit and using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third-party insurance. He was found guilty and fined £600. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for 12 months and ordered to pay costs of £600 and a surcharge of £60.

Angelika Skolomska, 28, of Park Avenue, Wokingham, admitted to assault by beating and was fined £400. A restraining order was imposed by the court and she was ordered to pay costs of £135 and compensation of £50.

Sandra Socha, 30, of Rectory Road, Wokingham, admitted to assault by beating and was fined £250. A restraining order was imposed by the court and she was ordered to pay costs of £135 and compensation of £50.

February 19:

Louisa Ann Brannan, 57, of Stevenson Drive, Binfield, was proven to have exceeded 30 miles per hour on restricted road, namely speeding, on five occasions and was fined a total of £200. She was disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for six months due to her repeat offending. She was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

February 20:

Donald Husbands, 61, of no fixed abode, admitted to causing criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, namely a door to the value of £348. He was fined £150, ordered to pay compensation of £348 and a surcharge of £30.

February 21:

Michael Robert Lane, 36, of Grantham Close, Camberley, denied assault by beating, causing criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 and harassment without violence in Warfield and was found guilty. He was committed to prison for six months suspended for 18 months. He must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 20 days. He will also be required to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. A restraining order was imposed and he was ordered to pay compensation of £400, costs of £400 and a surcharge of £115.

Brandon Lees, 21, of Aphelion Way, Shinfield, admitted to assault by beating and received a community order. He will be required to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. He was ordered to pay compensation of £100, costs of £85 and a surcharge of £85.

Ricky Lovejoy, 55, of Norreys Avenue, Wokingham, admitted to drink-driving, using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third-party insurance and driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence. He was fined £340 and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 22 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

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.