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

December 20:

Aston Lincoln, 38, of Windsor Mews, Salisbury, admitted to assault by beating in Bracknell and received a conditional discharge for six months. He was also ordered to pay costs totalling £105.

December 27:

Matthew Wignall, 20, of St Georges Lane, South Ascot, admitted to driving a motor vehicle when the proportion of a controlled drug exceeded the specified limit. He was fined £166 and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay costs totalling £115.

December 29:

Rebekah Rose Mary Gillespie, 24, of no fixed abode, admitted to two counts of theft from a shop, namely stealing food and drink to the value of £55.64 belonging to Tesco. She was fined £80 and ordered to pay compensation of £10.

December 30:

Saskia Grace Meadows, 24, of Forest Road, Warfield, admitted to drink driving and received a community order. She must carry out 120 hours of unpaid work for the benefit of the community in the next 12 months and has been disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 26 months. She was ordered to pay costs of £630 and a surcharge of £85.

Adrian Gareth Lewis, 53, of Kennet Heath, Thatcham, admitted to stealing a bicycle to the value of £550 from Thatcham Station and another bicycle to the value of £650 from Wokingham Station. He received a community order and will be required to complete a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement for nine months. He must also take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 25 days. He was ordered to pay compensation of £1,200.

Christopher Charles Hazell, 38, of St Peters Road, Reading, admitted to theft from a shop, namely stealing four DVDs, a packet of crisps and two bottles of Southern Comfort to the value of £177.70 belonging to Sainsbury’s, Winnersh. He community order was made and he will be required to complete a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement for six months. He must also take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 15 days. He was also ordered to pay costs totalling £170.

December 31:

Josef Schoenwerth, 27, of Barnsbury Lane, Kingston upon Thames, admitted to being in charge of a motor vehicle above the legal alcohol limit in Bracknell. He was fined £300 and had his driving licence endorsed with 10 penalty points. He was also made to pay costs totalling £115.

Ionel Pascu, 30, of no fixed abode, admitted to four counts of theft from a shop and one count of assault by beating, namely an emergency worker. He was committed to prison for a total of 14 weeks and was ordered to pay a surcharge of £115.

Dominic Butler, 18, of no fixed abode, admitted to failing without reasonable excuse to comply with the requirements of a community order made by Reading Magistrates’ Court by failing to attend an unpaid work requirement and failing to give evidence as directed. He was committed to prison for four months, suspended for four months and he must comply with a supervision order for 24 months. He must also take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 20 days.

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.

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.