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

February 25:

Arren Ryan Greenslade, 24, of no fixed abode, admitted to criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 and breaching a restraining order. A community order was made and he must take part in a Programme Requirement for 35 days and a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 10 days. He must carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months and he was ordered to pay compensation of £200.

Connor Cook, 18, of Wood Lane, Arborfield, admitted to drink driving, using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third-party insurance and failing without reasonable cause to surrender to custody at Reading Magistrates’ Court, having been released on bail during criminal proceedings. He was fined £120 and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 17 months. He was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

Fahad Alawi, 32, of German Shepherd Boat, moored on Thames, Reading, admitted to sending by public communication network an offensive/indecent/obscene /menacing message at Wokingham. A community order was made and he must take part in a Programme Requirement for 25 days and a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of five days. He was ordered to pay costs of £300 and a surcharge of £85.

February 26:

Antoinette Doherty, 26, of Eversley Road, Arborfield Cross, denied failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle who was alleged to have been guilty of an offence. She was found guilty and fined £210. She was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months and was ordered to pay costs of £200 and a surcharge of £30.

February 27

George John Holland, 65, of HMP Bullingdon, denied assault by beating in Bracknell and was found guilty. He was committed to prison for eight weeks and ordered to pay a surcharge of £115.

Louisa Darby, 22, of Dunford Place, Binfield, admitted to drink driving and was fined £528. She was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 22 months and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £52.

Andrew Docherty, 47, of Barkham Ride, Finchampstead, admitted to drink driving and was fined £1,500. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 36 months and was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £150.

Thomas Field, 21, of Cherry Tree Grove, Barkham, admitted to driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit and without due care and attention. He was fined £120 and was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months. He was also was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

February 28:

Lauren Katie Gould, 29, of Banbury, Bracknell, admitted to assault by beating of a paramedic and was committed to prison for four months. The offence was aggravated by being committed while subject to a community sentence. She was also ordered to pay compensation of £250.

Sam Tomkins, 41, of Hartley Court Road, Wokingham, admitted to drink driving and received a community order. He must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 32 months and was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge £85.

Jason Clarke, 27, of Pollardrow Avenue, Bracknell, admitted to failing to co-operate with a preliminary test and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. A community order was made and he must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 15 days. He was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months and was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 48 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 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. This principle of open justice is acclaimed on a number of grounds: as a safeguard against judicial error and as a deterrent to perjury.