The following cases were heard at Reading Magistrates’ Court

April 29:

Sarra Marie Seeley Dixon, 31, of Dulnan Close, Tilehurst, admitted to being drunk and disorderly in public and received a conditional discharge for six months. She was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £20.

Chad Cox, 29, of no fixed abode, admitted to assault by beating and was fined £60. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £50 and a surcharge of £30.

Ian Keith Ward, 55, of Ashampstead Road, Reading, admitted to assault by beating and received a conditional discharge for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £20.

Jeffrey Cole, 46, of Dwyer Road, Reading, denied driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit and was found guilty. He was fined £180 and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 14 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £200 and a surcharge of £30.

Mark Eric Deadfield, 50, of Southcote Lane, Reading, denied drink driving and was found guilty. He was fined £975 and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £1,950 and a surcharge of £97.

April 30:

Mark Jemmott, 40, of Deveron Drive, Tilehurst, admitted to common assault of an emergency worker and racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/ alarm/distress. He received a community order and must take part in a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement for six months and a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 30 days. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £50, costs of £250 and a surcharge of £85.

Jamie White, 38, of Winton Road, Reading, admitted to assault by beating and received a conditional discharge for six months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £20.

May 1:

Gary Martin Mohan, 44, of Drovers Way, Woodley, admitted to theft from a shop, namely stealing various goods to the value of £415.25 belonging to Sainsbury’s in Winnersh. He also admitted to commission of a further offence while subject to a conditional discharge order. He received a community order and must take part in a Curfew Requirement and a Programme Requirement for 30 days. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £85.

Anthony Gordon Hunt, 30, of George Street, Reading, admitted to theft from a shop, namely stealing DVDs to the value of £133.48 belonging to WHSmiths. He received a conditional discharge for 12 months and was ordered to pay a surcharge of £20.

May 2:

Seth Adam Jalland, 40, of Felixstowe Close, Earley, admitted to racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress and was fined £200. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £100 and costs of £85.

Joshua Clarke, 19, of Caldbeck Drive, Woodley, admitted to theft by employee, namely stealing clothing to the value of £484.44 belonging to Miss Selfridge. He received a community order and must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 20 days. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £85.

May 3:

Jonathon Frederick Pearson, 28, of Rosemary Gardens, Thatcham, admitted to drink driving, possession of a controlled drug of Class A, namely cocaine, and possession a controlled drug of Class B, namely cannabis/cannabis resin. He received a community order and must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 25 days. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 36 months and was ordered to pay costs of £200 and a surcharge of £85.

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.