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

November 7:

ARTIZAN HEATING, of Eastheath Avenue, Wokingham, admitted failing to suitably assess for asbestos before allowing employees entry to a site in Whitchurch-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, on August 6. Also admitted failing to prevent the exposure of asbestos to one of your employees in Whitchurch-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, on the same date. Fined a total of £5000 and ordered to pay £170 victim surcharge. Also ordered to pay £5722.24 court costs.

STEVEN GOULDING, 36, of Ashville Way, Wokingham, admitted racially or religiously aggravated common assault or beating in Reading. Given a community order including rehabilitation activity and ordered to carry out unpaid work for 120 hours. Must pay £500 compensation and £85 victim surcharge. Also ordered to pay £85 court costs.

November 8:

ROBERT PITFIELD, 47, of Rachels Lake View, Warfield, admitted failing to give information relating to a driver allegedly guilty of an offence in Banbury, Oxfordshire between March 8, 2019, and April 5, 2019. Fined £54 and ordered to pay £54 victim surcharge. Also ordered to pay £85 costs. Six points added to driving licence.

MOHAMMED KHALIL, 28, of Old Bracknell Lane West, Bracknell, convicted of not having the correct ticket while travelling on the railway through Slough on May 24. Fined £220 and ordered to pay £10 compensation. Also ordered to pay £30 victim surcharge and £160 court costs.

November 11:

LEE SCRUTTON, 56, of Bearwood Park, Winnersh, admitted failing to comply with suspended sentence requirements by not attending probation appointments on October 1 and October 10, 2019. Suspended sentence order to continue. Fined £400 and also ordered to pay £60 court costs.

BENJAMIN PEARCE, 20, of Tickner Gate, Wokingham, admitted drink-driving on Berkshire Way on October 26, 2019. Found to have 48mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, over the legal limit of 35mcg. Fined £166 and ordered to pay £32 victim surcharge. Also ordered to pay £85 court costs. Disqualified from driving for 14 months.

HARRY ROUND, 18, of Brownlow Drive, Bracknell, admitted drink driving on Ruddlesway, Windsor, on October 27, 2019. Found to have 58mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, over the legal limit of 35mcg. Fined £80 and ordered to pay £32 victim surcharge. Also ordered to pay £85 court costs. Disqualified from driving for 15 months.

November 12:

PATRICK DOHERTY, 24, of Eversley Road, Reading, admitted assault thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm in Bracknell on May 19, 2019. Sentenced to prison for 13 weeks suspended for 24 months, due to offence 'being so serious - reason for suspension being personal mitigation and remorse'. Also ordered to participate in rehabilitation activity and must undertake 120 hours unpaid work. Also ordered to pay £115 victim surcharge and £170 court costs.

November 14:

ROBERT ALEX WEBSTER, 19, of Jersey Drive, Winnersh, admitted drug-driving in Meldreth Way, Earley, on July 4, 2019. Found to have 3.2mcg of cannabis per litre of blood. Fined £110. Also ordered to pay £32 victim surcharge and £85 court costs. Disqualified from driving for 12 months.

DARRELL WELCH, 53, of Ashton Road, Wokingham, admitted drink-driving in Queens Road, Wokingham, on October 26. Found to have 53mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35mcg. Fined £400 and ordered to pay £40 victim surcharge. Also ordered to pay £85 court costs. Disqualified from driving for 15 months.

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.