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

November 19:

Stephen Nicholas Arnold, 46, of Springdale, Finchampstead, admitted to failing to provide a specimen for analysis and received a community order. He will be required to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. He was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 30 months and was ordered to pay costs of £785.

Odette Cox, 47, of Linnet Close, Bracknell, admitted to failing to provide a specimen for analysis and was fined £100. He was also disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 24 months.

Martin Joseph Maughan, 31, of HMP Bullingdon, admitted to theft from a motor vehicle in Bracknell, namely stealing power tools from a van to the value of £3,500. He also admitted to attempted theft from a motor vehicle in Bracknell, namely attempting to steal various items from a van. He was committed to prison for a total of eight months and ordered to pay compensation of £3,369.98.

November 20:

Lola Bonnallie, 21, of Ivy Drive, Lightwater, denied assault by beating and was proven guilty in her absence. She also admitted to failing without reasonable cause to surrender to custody, having been released on bail during criminal proceedings. A community order was made and she was given an Exclusion Requirement and ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. She was also told to pay compensation of £500, costs of £750 and a surcharge of £85.

November 21:

Brian Patrick Charlton, 29, of Coronation Square, Reading, admitted to threatening to threatening to damage/destroy property in Reading and criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 in Bracknell. He was ordered to pay compensation of £80.

November 22:

Amy Kathleen Cowley, 33, of Gorrick Square, Wokingham, denied driving while disqualified and was proven guilty in her absence. She also admitted to using a motor vehicle without third-party insurance and failing without reasonable cause to surrender to custody, having been released on bail during criminal proceedings. She was fined £200 and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for six months. She also had to pay costs of £100 and a surcharge of £30.

Cernea Costel, 42, of Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham, admitted to drink-driving and was fined £538. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 24 months and made to pay costs totalling £138.

Nelson Smith, 23, of Mole Road, Wokingham, admitted to drink-driving and was fined £400. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months and made to pay costs totalling £125.

Angella Nansibuka, 37, of Grovelands Avenue, Winnersh, admitted to failing to provide a specimen for analysis and received a community order. She will be required to take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 15 days and she was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months. She also had to pay costs totalling £170.

November 23:

Gheorgheta Tudorache, 34, of Prescott, Bracknell, admitted to drink-driving and was fined £350. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 18 months and ordered to pay costs of £500.

Adam Leslie Piksinski, 19, of Headington Drive, Wokingham, denied stealing a black holdall bag containing various items belonging to British Transport Police and was found guilty after a summary trial. He was fined £125, ordered to pay costs of £125 and a surcharge of £30.

John Anthony Searle, 45, of Yardley, Bracknell, admitted to theft from a shop, namely stealing a box of LOL series 4 lil sisters to the value of £175 belonging to The Entertainer. He also admitted to failing to surrender to Slough Magistrates’ Court, or as soon after that time as was reasonably practicable, having been released on bail in criminal proceedings. He received a conditional discharge for 12 months and was ordered to pay a surcharge of £20.

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 matters of public interest.