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

July 17:

Jennifer Amanda Smith, 45, of Silver Fox Crescent, Woodley. Driving over the drink-drive limit. Disqualified from driving for 16 months. Fined £120. Costs £115.

July 18:

Gregor Jurcic, 30, of Juniper, Bracknell. Driving over the drug-drive limit. Disqualified from driving for 12 months. Fined £296. Costs £330.

Walter Benson, 31, of Wokingham Road, Reading. Driving over the drink-drive limit in Wokingham. Disqualified from driving for 14 months. Fined £200. Costs £32. Driving on a road/public place without third party insurance. Fined £200.

Luke Andrew Dennis, 33, of Thirlmere Avenue, Tilehurst. Driving over the drug-drive limit. Disqualified from driving for 12 months. Fined £350. Costs £120. Driving over the drug-drive limit. Disqualified from driving for 12 months. Driving over the drug-drive limit. Disqualified from driving for 12 months. Driving on a road/public place without third party insurance. Fined £300.

Neil Simon Tristein Mercieca, 36, of Inchwood, Bracknell. Assault by beating. Community order made. Compensation £250. Criminal damage to property valued under £5,000. Community order made. Restraining order made. Compensation £200.

July 19:

Richard Jon Palk, 32, of Severn Way, Tilehurst. Use threatening or abusive words, behaviour or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress in Lower Earley. Fined £300. Costs £330.

Sean Vincent Marshall, 58, of Grovelands Avenue, Winnersh. Criminal damage to property valued under £5,000. Community order made. Compensation £500. Criminal damage to property valued under £5,000. Community order made.

July 22:

Lewis Adam Burt, 36, of Stoneham Close, Reading. Driving over the drink-drive limit in Warfield. Disqualified from driving for 28 months. Community order made. Costs £335.

Victoria Louise Hawthorne, 46, of Arnett Avenue, Finchampstead. Original offence in respect of which a community order was made. Imprisoned for three months, suspended for 12 months.

Grant Daniel Sayer, 40, of Zinzan Street, Reading. Theft from a shop at The Lexicon, Bracknell. Discharged conditionally for 18 months. Costs £65.

Louise Mary Urwin, 30, of Zinzan Street, Reading. Theft from a shop at The Lexicon, Bracknell. Discharged conditionally for 24 months. Costs £60. Possession of a controlled drug of Class B (cannabis/cannabis resin). Discharged conditionally for 24 months.

Ashley Louise Chandler, 34, of Yeovil Road, Sandhurst. Assault by beating an emergency worker. Fined £135. Costs £330. Use threatening or abusive words, behaviour or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress in Sandhurst. Fined £135.

Ellis Simon Pursey, 27, of Elveden Close, Lower Earley. Send communication/article of an indecent/offensive nature. Restraining order made. Fined £270. Costs £330.

Joseph Matthew Dacosta, 37, of Ascot Road, Maidenhead. Driving over the 30mph speed limit in Bracknell. Disqualified from driving for six months. Fined £70. Costs £115.

Adam James Hill, 35, of Downshire Way, Bracknell. Use a vehicle on a road/public place without third party insurance. Disqualified from driving for 12 months. Fined £275. Costs £115.

Gary Arnold, 50, of Carnation Drive, Winkfield Row. Driving over the 30mph speed limit. Fined £326. Costs £117. Driving record endorsed with three penalty points. No totting disqualification.

A fundamental principle of open justice is that it must be seen to be done. It is established in the UK 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.