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

March 11:

JAMIE BARRETT, 31, of Lindenhill Road, Bracknell, admitted stealing laundry items worth £74.58, belonging to Budgens in Bracknell on November 12, 2019. Also admitted stealing £40 worth of meat from Co-op, Bracknell, on December 27, 2019, and stealing £20 cash from Co-op, Bracknell, on January 11. Also admitted stealing £20 cash from Co-op, Bracknell, on January 10, and admitted theft by finding of cash from BP Petrol Station, Bracknell, on January 22. Also admitted theft by finding of cash from Co-op, in Wokingham, on January 22. Sentenced to 26 weeks in prison due to severity of offence committed while subject to a community sentence. Also ordered to pay £122 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

March 12:

DANIELLE CORIO, 18, of Harmar Close, Wokingham, admitted two charges of assault by beating in Bracknell on August 13, 2019. Also admitted assault by beating of a working police constable on August 13, 2019, and admitted being drunk and disorderly in a public place in Wokingham on January 9. Also admitted assault by beating of a working police officer in Lower Earley on January 9, and assault of a working special constable in Lower Earley on January 9. Given a community order including a requirement to undertake 80 hours unpaid work. Also ordered to pay £100 compensation, £90 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

GAVIN BENNETTO, 52, of Great Hollands, Bracknell, convicted of assault thereby occasioning actual bodily harm in Bracknell on April 5, 2019. Given a community order with a requirement to undertake 200 hours unpaid work. Also made subject to a restraining order. Ordered to pay £90 victim surcharge and £775 court costs.

March 13:

IAN JACKSON, 54, of Agar Crescent, Bracknell, admitted to assault by beating in Bracknell on December 17, 2019. Given a community order including rehabilitation activity requirement. Also made subject to a restraining order. Ordered to pay £90 victim surcharge and £100 court costs.

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.