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

May 13:

Jeffrey John Scott, 53, of Church Hams, Finchampstead, denied speeding and was proven guilty in his absence. He was fined £100 and had his driving licence endorsed with three penalty points. He was also ordered to pay costs of £150 and a surcharge of £30.

Michael Alvin Coventry, 42, of Northumberland Avenue, Reading, admitted to theft from a shop, namely stealing coats to the value of £490 belonging to Milletts, Bracknell. He received a community order and must take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 10 days. He was also ordered to pay a fine of £45, costs of £40 and a surcharge of £85.

May 14:

Eleanor Brander, 27, of Landon Grove, Wokingham, admitted to dishonestly failing to promptly notify a local authority that there had been an increase in her income, knowing it would affect her entitlement to housing benefit. She received a community order and must take part in an Unpaid Work Requirement of 40 hours in the next 12 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £85.

Daniel Stewart Velzian, 27, of Tamworth, Bracknell, admitted to theft from a shop, namely stealing various products belonging to Aldi to the value of £109.67. He received a conditional discharge of six months and was ordered to pay compensation of £109.67, costs of £40 and a surcharge of £20.

May 15:

Gigel Octavian Pristoleanu, 21, of Park Lane, Finchampstead, admitted to driving while disqualified and using a motor vehicle on a road/public place without third-party insurance. He received a community order and must take part in an Unpaid Work Requirement of 160 hours in the next 12 months. He was disqualified for holding or obtaining a driving licence for nine months and was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £85.

John Anthony Hamilton-Brown, 22, of Westwates Close, Bracknell, admitted to driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit and was fined £292. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months and was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

Harrison Oliver John, 19, of Nash Grove Lane, Finchampstead, admitted to failing to provide a specimen for analysis and was fined £120. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

May 16:

Martin McDonagh, 24, of High Street, Chippenham, admitted to theft from a motor vehicle, namely stealing a hedge trimmer and battery, and going equipped for theft in Bracknell. He received a community order and must take part in an Unpaid Work Requirement of 180 hours in the next 12 months. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £85.

Thomas William Spires, 31, of Keats Road, Woodley, admitted to theft from a shop, namely stealing an electric razor belonging to Boots to the value of £249.99. He received a community order and must take part in a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement for six months and a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 10 days. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £249.99.

May 17:

Lee Patrick Ottewill, 51, of Oakdale, Bracknell, admitted to driving a motor vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit and was fined £100. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months and was ordered to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge of £30.

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.