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

June 16
STUART PORTERFIELD, 53, of Arnett Avenue, Finchampstead, Wokingham, admitted to driving without the correct insurance and obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty in Reading on January 10, 2021. He was banned from driving for six months, fined £400, and made to pay court fees of £119.
AJIT PANESAR, 39, of Clifton Road, Wokingham, admitted possession of an offensive weapon, namely knuckle dusters, in a public place, namely Wokingham, on July 24, 2020. He also admitted two counts of possession of a knife on the same date and in the same location. He was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months and told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work. Panesar was also told to pay £85 in court costs. 
THOMAS O’NIONS, 18, of The Burlings, Ascot, admitted drink-driving on Whitton Road, Bracknell on May 25, 2021. He was caught with 65 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the limit being 35mcg. He was banned from driving for 17 months, fined £120 and told to pay court fees of £107. 

June 18
OVIDIU BOTAN, 39, of Mount Lane, Bracknell, convicted of fraud by false representation, namely by using a Fenwick gift card purporting to be the owner of the card to buy £148 worth of goods, in Bracknell on March 28, 2019. Convicted of another count of fraud by false representation, namely by returning goods worth £148 to Fenwick in Bracknell on the same date. Botan was convicted of a third count of fraud by false representation, namely using a NIMBL cash card purporting to be the owner of the card to buy £3 worth of goods. He was fined £170, made to pay £18 in compensation, and ordered to pay £330 court fees. 
 

A fundamental principle of justice is that it must be seen to be done. Open justice is acclaimed: as a safeguard against judicial error, to assist the deterrent function of criminal trials and to permit the revelation of matters of interest.