The following cases were heard at Reading Magistrates’ Court

April 15:

Rachael Hannah Clark, 26, of no fixed abode, admitted to criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 and was fined £50.

Ryan Anthony James Dye, 37, of Ambrook Road, Whitley, admitted to two counts of driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit and using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third party insurance. He was fined £120 and was disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for a period of 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £30.

Deborah Coleshill, 49, of The Slopes, Caversham, denied harassment and assault by beating and was found guilty. She received a community order and will be required to take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 20 days and an Unpaid Work Requirement of 80 hours in the next 12 months. She was ordered to pay costs of £200 and a surcharge of £85. A restraining order was also imposed by the court.

April 16:

Luke James Paul Richardson, 24, of Hunters Hill, Burghfield, admitted to using a vehicle on a road fitted with blue warning beacon, driving without third party insurance and driving a vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence. He was fined £120 and had his driving licence endorsed with eight penalty points. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

April 17:

Lukasz Krystkowiak, 36, of no fixed abode, admitted to theft from a shop, namely stealing alcohol, clothing and electrical equipment belonging to Sainsbury’s to the value of £128.50. He was committed to prison for 14 days, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £115.

Sean Raymond Primmer, 38, of Hexham Road, Whitley, admitted to possession of a controlled drug of Class A, namely diamorphine, and possession of a controlled drug of Class C, namely Buprenorphine. He was fined a total of £200 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £30. An order was made by the court for the destruction of the drugs.

April 18:

Rodney Ian Delroy Mendez, 49, of Christchurch Road, Reading, admitted to two counts of theft from a shop, namely stealing meat to value of £165.19 belonging to Waitrose, Wokingham. He was committed to prison for a total of 60 days. The offence was aggravated by the defendant’s record of previous offending. He was ordered to pay compensation of £92.10 and a surcharge of £22.90.

Daniel Chandler, 19, of Whitley Wood Lane, Reading, admitted to assault by beating, criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, taking a motor vehicle without the owners consent, using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third party insurance and driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence in Wokingham. He received a community order and will be required to take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 20 days. He had his driving licence endorsed with six penalty points and was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £85.

Marius Dobre, 31, of Francis Street, Reading, admitted to drink driving, using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third party insurance and driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence. He was fined a total of £350 and was disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for a period of 12 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

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, to assist the deterrent function of criminal trials and to permit the revelation of matters of interest.