The following cases were heard at Reading and Slough Magistrates’ Court:

October 15:

Daniel Alexander Varney, 23, of Hight Street, Sandhurst, admitted to driving when the proportion of a controlled drug exceeded the specified limit. He was fined £276 and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for one year. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

October 16:

Matthew Thomas Keohane, 27, of Admirals Court, Reading, denied carrying a bladed/sharply pointed article in a public place at Wokingham and assault by beating. He was convicted after trial and committed to prison for a total of six months. He was also made to pay a surcharge of £115.

October 17:

Daniel John Simmonds, 28, of Park Lane, Tilehurst, admitted to stealing a pedal cycle to the value of £350 in Bracknell. A community order was made and he must comply with a curfew order for three months. He was also ordered to take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 10 days. He was told to pay costs and a surcharge of £85 each.

Rebecca Croot, 29, of Gypsy Lane, Wokingham, admitted to harassment without violence and received a conditional discharge of 18 months. The court made a restraining order and she was told to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £20.

Benjamine Peri, 50, of Lower Broadmoor Road, Crowthorne, admitted to assault by beating and was ordered to pay compensation of £300.

October 18:

Jade Hull, 36, of York Road, Binfield, denied failing without reasonable excuse to comply with the supervision requirements imposed following release from a period of imprisonment and found guilty. She also admitted to two counts of theft from a shop, commission of a further offence during the operational period of a suspended sentence and was dealt with for the original offence, stealing items from a shop in Bracknell. She was committed to prison for a total of 16 weeks and ordered to pay a surcharge of £115.

Laura Jackaman, 31, of Nuthurst, Bracknell, admitted to keeping an unlicensed vehicle and was fined £162. She was also ordered to pay vehicle excise back duty of £31.67 and costs of £85.

Simon Andrew Nice, 29, of Faraday Place, Bracknell, admitted to stalking without fear/alarm/distress and was committed to prison for eight weeks, suspended for 24 months. He was ordered to complete 30 sessions of an accredited programme, namely Building Better Relationships. He must also take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 15 days. The court made a restraining order and he was told to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £115.

Julian Davis, 50, of Eden Place, Sunningdale, admitted to drink driving and was fined £400. He was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for 18 months and made to pay costs of £440.

Clive James Shepherd, 26, of South Meadow, Crowthorne, admitted to driving with a proportion of a controlled drug above the specified limit. He was fined £200 and disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for 12 months.

Timothy Alan Crombie, 29, of Osprey Avenue, Bracknell, admitted to possession of a controlled drug of Class A and driving while the proportion of a controlled drug was above the specified limit. He was fined £120 and disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence for 12 months. He must also take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 10 days.

Darren Bellinger, 40, of Church Road, Bracknell, was proven to have travelled on the railway without a valid ticket and was fined £220. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £7 and costs of £140.

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. This 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.