The following cases were heard at Reading Magistrates’ Court:

July 2:

Mark Donald Ian Usher, 60, of Upper Lambourn Road, Upper Lambourn. Failure to comply with red/green arrow/lane closure light signals whilst driving. Driving record endorsed with three penalty points. No totting disqualification. Fined £447. Costs £129.

July 3:

Gareth John Benfield, 55, of Berkeley Avenue, Reading. Driving over the drink-drive limit. Disqualified from driving for 20 months. Fined £300. Costs £117.

Craig Cripps, 35, of Willow Street, Reading. Begging in a public place. Fined £30. Costs £32.

Paul Andrew Cooke, 35, of Beverley Road, Tilehurst. Theft in dwelling other than an automatic machine or meter. Community order made. Compensation £390. Costs £85. Failure to surrender to custody at Reading Magistrates’ Court. Fined £50. Failure to surrender to custody at Reading Magistrates’ Court. Fined £50.

Ben Stuart Brown, 33, of St Johns Road, Thatcham. Driving over the drink-drive limit. Disqualified from driving for 22 months. Fined £430. Costs £128.

Damon John Cousins, 45, of Blenheim Gardens, Reading. Driving over the drink-driving. Disqualified from driving for 15 months. Fined £400. Costs £115.

Leigh-Anna Cheri Martin, 31, of Willow Street, Reading. Possession of a controlled drug of Class A (heroin). Community order made. Costs £85. Commission of a further offence whilst subject to a conditional discharge order. Community order made.

Michael Thomas McNamara, 28, of Springfield Park, Twyford. Possession of a controlled drug of Class A (cocaine). Community order made. Costs £170. Possession of a controlled drug of Class B (cannabis/cannabis resin). Community order made.

Tudorel Petrache, 31, of Berkeley Road, Newbury. Driving over the drink-drive limit. Disqualified from driving for 16 months. Fined £325. Costs £117.

Brian Thomson, 71, of Falcon Avenue, Shinfield. Driving over the drink-drive limit. Fined £180. Disqualified from driving for 20 months. Costs £115.

Luke Anthony Warwick, 39, of The Bevers, Mortimer Common. Driving over the drink-drive limit. Disqualified from driving for 14 months. Fined £180. Costs £115.

July 4:

Hannah Kate Howard, 37, of Waterloo Rise, Reading. Theft from a shop. Community order made. Failure to surrender to custody at Reading Magistrates’ Court. Community order made. Failure to surrender to custody at Reading Magistrates’ Court. Community order made. Failure to surrender to custody at Reading Magistrates’ Court. Community order made. Theft from a shop. Community order made. Theft from a shop. Community order made. Assault by beating. Community order made. Compensation £85. Costs £85.

Fabienne Augustus, 28, of Red Cottage Drive, Calcot. Driving over the drug-drive limit. Disqualified from driving for 12 months. Fined £120. Costs £115.

Gemma Susan Bosley, 34, of Lowfield Road, Caversham. Criminal damage to property valued under £5,000. Community order made. Restraining order made. Costs £170. Assault by beating. Community order made. Compensation £150.

Lorice Hill, 22, of Brendon Close, Tilehurst. Criminal damage to property valued under £5,000. Community order made. Restraining order made. Costs £170. Assault by beating. Community order made. Compensation £150.

Daniel David Sims, 34, of Cotswood Road, Whitley. Taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent. Community order made. Costs £85. Using a road/public place without third party insurance. Driving record endorsed with six penalty points.

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.

The principle of open justice is acclaimed on a number of grounds: as a safeguard against judicial error, to assist the deterrent function of criminal trials and to permit the revelation of matters of interest.