The following cases were heard at Reading Magistrates’ Court

January 21:

Ryan James Walker, 23, of The Meadway, Tilehurst, admitted to theft from a shop and using threatening/abusive/insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment/alarm/distress. He also admitted to commission of an offence during the operational period of a suspended sentence and was dealt with for the original offence, namely theft from a shop. He was committed to prison for a total of 20 weeks.

Brian Patrick Charlton, 29, of Coronation Square, Reading, admitted to two counts of assault by beating and he was committed to prison for a total of eight weeks. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £60, costs of £200 and a surcharge of £115.

Michael Steven Walter Littleboy, 22, of Mylum Close, Reading, admitted to using threatening/abusive/insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment/alarm/distress. A community order was made and he must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 12 days. He must carry out an unpaid work requirement of 80 hours within the next 12 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £775 and a surcharge of £85.

Owen Harper, 27, of Cressingham Road, Reading, admitted to failing without reasonable excuse to comply with the requirements of a suspended sentence order made by Reading Magistrates’ Court by failing to comply with an activity requirement. His existing sentence was varied and he was committed to prison for 12 weeks, suspended for 12 months. He will be required to take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 28 days. He was also ordered to pay costs of £60.

January 22:

Leigh-Anna Cheri Martin, 30, of no fixed abode, admitted to stealing a handbag and received a conditional discharge of 12 months. She was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £20.

January 23:

Connor Lee Smith, 18, of no fixed abode, admitted to causing criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 and common assault. A community order was made and he must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 12 days. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £50.

January 24:

Donovan Lee, 45, of Rembrandt Way, Reading, admitted to possession of a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place. A community order was made and he must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 15 days. He must also carry out an unpaid work requirement of 100 hours in the next 12 months. An order was made for destruction of the knife and he was ordered to pay costs totalling £170.

Shane Frank Graham, 22, of Short Street, Reading, admitted to being drunk and disorderly in a public place and racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress. A community order was made and he must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 12 days. He must also carry out an unpaid work requirement of 80 hours in the next 12 months. He was ordered to pay compensation of £100, costs of £85 and a surcharge of £85.

Dexter Matthews, 27, of Clares Green Road, Reading, admitted to driving with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit, drink-driving and possession of a controlled drug of Class A, namely cocaine. He was fined a total of £190 and disqualified from holding of obtaining a driving licence for 12 months. An order was made for the destruction of the drugs and he was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

January 25:

Adeel Asif, 21, of Hadrian Walk East, Reading, denied breaching a restraining order and was found guilty. He was also dealt with for the original offence, namely stalking, and he was committed to prison for a total of 26 weeks. He was ordered to pay costs of £400 and a surcharge of £115.

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, as a deterrent to perjury, to assist the deterrent function of criminal trials and to permit the revelation of matters of public interest.