The following cases were heard at Reading Magistrates’ Court

April 1:

Ian Christopher Playle, 49, of Carron Close, Tilehurst, admitted to driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit. He was fined £120 and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

Ricky Lee Ashworth, 38, of Dee Road, Tilehurst, admitted to racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress and was fined £120. He also admitted to theft from a motor vehicle and was fined £80. He was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

Aatif Arif, 32, of Northumberland Avenue, Reading, admitted to failing without reasonable excuse to comply with the requirements of a community order made by Reading Magistrates’ Court by failing to attend an Unpaid Work Requirement. He was dealt with for the original offence and was fined £100.

April 2:

Shaun Anthony John Basden, 48, of Brixham Road, Reading, admitted to two counts of theft from a shop, namely stealing seven jackets to the value of £1,530 and a further four jackets to the value of £860 belonging to Cotswold Outdoor. A community order was made and he must take part in a Programme Requirement for 18 days, a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 15 days and an Unpaid Work Requirement of 40 hours over the next 12 months. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £85.

Douglas Staples, 69, of Vanners Lane, Newbury, denied sending a card which conveyed a message which was indecent or grossly offensive for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety. He was found guilty and received a community order. He will be required to take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 15 days and carry out an Unpaid Work Requirement of 200 hours in the next 12 months. A restraining order was made and he was ordered to pay costs of £960, compensation of £200 and a surcharge of £115.

April 3:

Tony McManus, 20, of Coronation Square, Reading, admitted to causing criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 and common assault. He received a conditional discharge order of 12 months and was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £20.

Kieran Frederick Stannard, 19, of St Mary’s Place, Newbury, admitted to possessing a controlled drug of Class B - Cannabis/Cannabis Resin and failing without reasonable cause to surrender to custody at Reading Magistrates’ Court having been released on bail during criminal proceedings. He received a conditional discharge order of 12 months and was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £20. An order was made by the court for the destruction of the drugs.

April 4:

Tinotenda Chigona, 24, of Tilney Way, Earley, admitted to possessing a controlled drug of Class B - Cannabis/Cannabis Resin and was fined £100. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30. An order was made for the destruction of the drugs.

April 5:

Nauraj Gurung, 27, of Thurlestone Gardens, Reading, admitted to assault by beating and failing without reasonable cause to surrender to custody at Reading Magistrates’ Court, having been released on bail in criminal proceedings. He was fined £392, ordered to pay costs of £85, compensation of £100 and a surcharge of £39.

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.