The following cases were heard at Reading Magistrates’ Court

January 28:

Kinglsey Anthony Haughton, 42, of Barnsdale Road, Reading, admitted to theft from a shop and failing without reasonable cause to surrender to custody at Reading Magistrates’ Court, having been released on bail during criminal proceedings. He was committed to prison for a total of 10 weeks and was ordered to pay compensation of £287.88.

Stephen Povey, 37, of Auckland Road, Reading, admitted to four counts of harassment without violence, namely posting harassing messages via social media and was committed to prison for a total of 12 weeks, suspended for 12 months. A restraining order was imposed by the court and he will be required to take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 25 days. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £115.

January 29:

Cameron Max Harle, 23, of no fixed abode, admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, namely strangling a guinea pig. The offence was aggravated by the fact that it caused the death of the animal, which belonged to the defendant’s sister, and the offence was committed while he was the subject of a community sentence. He was committed to prison for a total of 16 weeks and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £115. An order was made by the court, disqualifying the defendant from owning and keeping animals for a period of 12 months.

Charlie Harry Floyd, 28, of Norwood Road, Reading, admitted to driving a motor vehicle when the proportion of a controlled drug exceeded the specified limit. He also admitted to driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence and without third-party insurance. He was fined a total of £500 and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

Jacek Maciej Markiewicz, 29, of no fixed abode, denied going equipped for theft and admitted to possessing a knife/blade/sharp-pointed article in a public place. He received a conditional discharge for six months. He was ordered to pay a surcharge of £20 and an order was made for the knife to be destroyed.

January 30:

Fred Andrew Freemantle, 41, of Harlech Avenue, Reading, admitted to using a vehicle which was not licensed. He was fined £660 and ordered to pay vehicle excise back duty of £251.67 . He was also made to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £66.

Deven Limbu, 29, of Catherine Street, Reading, admitted to drink-driving and failing to stop after a road accident. He was fined a total of £416 and was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 19 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

January 31:

Thomas William Spires, 30, of Keats Road, Woodley, admitted to theft from a shop and failing without reasonable cause to surrender to custody at Reading Magistrates’ Court, having been released on bail during criminal proceedings. He was fined a total of £268 and ordered to pay compensation of £100. He also had to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

Samuel Robert Hill, 27, of Curlew Drive, Tilehurst, admitted to assault by beating and received a community order. He will be required to take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 10 days and to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. He must also pay compensation of £150 and costs of £85.

Sarah Anne Jennings, 38, of Restwold Close, Reading, admitted to fraud by false representation, namely using a stolen bank card to purchase scratch cards. She received a conditional discharge for 12 months and was ordered to pay compensation of £80, costs of £85 and a surcharge of £20.

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.