The following cases were heard at Reading Magistrates’ Court:

JAMES BENSLEY, 36, of Norton Road, Woodley, admitted criminal damage to a marked police car tyre in Reading on July 27. Fined £90 and ordered to pay a £32 victim surcharge.

JOHN SHACKELL, 36, of Talbot Court, Reading, admitted to breaching a non-molestation order at Hungerford on August 28. Sentenced to prison for 12 weeks and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £122.

BEN COOK, 18, of Amhurst Road, Reading, admitted to drug-driving on April 27 on Shinfield Road, Reading. Found to have 4.2ug/l of cannabis in his blood. Disqualified from driving for 12 months. Also ordered to pay a fine of £100, as well as a victim surcharge of £30 and £85 court costs.

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MARK WINFIELD, 51, of Station Road, Aldermaston, admitted to stealing £16.40 worth of food from Sainsbury's in Newbury on July 24. Given a conditional discharge for six months, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £21.

LEE ALDER, 47, of Kingsley Close, Reading, admitted to drink-driving on Whitley Wood Lane, Reading on August 14. Found to have 100mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35mcg. Given a community order including undertaking 100 hours of unpaid work within 12 months. Also admitted driving without the correct insurance on the same day.Also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £90, and £85 court costs. Also disqualified from driving for 24 months and ordered to complete a driving course.

JAMIE COSTELLO, 35, of Carshalton Way, Lower Earley, admitted to failing to stop for police when required in Lower Early Way, Reading on April 3, 2019. Also admitted driving a car wihtout due care and attention on the same road and same day. Also admitted driving a vehicle whilst being unfit through drugs on the same road and date, found to have cannabis in his blood. Admitted a further charge of driving while being unfit through drugs, found to have cocaine in his blood on the same date and in Lower Early Way. Admitted possession of cannabis on April 3. Fined a combined total of £900, was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

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ADELE FINCH, 25, of Wordsworth Road, Thatcham, admitted to stealing a Nikon camera and lens, worth £400-£600 from a person while in Woolhampton. Also admitted to committing fraud by selling the stolen camera to second-hand goods chain Cex between May 20 - June 2 in Reading. Also admitted theft and fraud by stealing a bank card and using it to buy scratch cards and a train ticket on April 20. Also Admitted to fraud by selling the stolen camera lenses to Cash Converters in Reading between May 20 - June 2. Given a community order which includes 120 hours of unpaid work within 12 months and must pay compensation of £250. Also to pay a victim surcharge of £85.

MARK SQUIRES, 35, of Tadcroft Walk, Calcot, admitted common assault in Reading on August 10. Also admitted to threatening to damage or destroy pub windows and admitted to using threatening or abusive words or behaviour in Reading on the same date. Fined a total of £400, also ordered to pay £50 in compensation, £31 to victim surcharge and £85 in court costs. Also banned from the pub involved for 12 months.

JOANNE STACEY, 46, of Norcot Road, Tilehurst, admitted to drug-driving on Liebenrood Road, Reading, on April 9. Found to have 65ug/l of cocaine in her blood. Fined £260, and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and £85 in court costs. Also disqualified from driving for 12 months.

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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.