THE following cases were heard at Reading Magistrates’ Court:

IAN MIDDLETON, 18, of Wensley Road, Reading, admitted assault by beating in Reading on January 9. Given a community order including rehabilitation requirements and 12 hours of unpaid work. Ordered to pay £100 compensation, and £100 court costs.

ROBERT BLACK, 51, of Parson Close in Newbury, convicted of burglary after stealing £400 worth of drink from a storage unit in High Street, Thatcham, on January 29. Also admitted being drunk and disorderly in Bath Road, Thatcham, on April 23, admitted failing to surrender to custody on May 9, and admitted breaching a suspended sentence order on April 11. Given a community order to comply with rehabilitation activity. Ordered to pay £300 compensation, and fined £20.

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AMANDA BRENCH, 47, of Howell Close in Arborfield, Reading, convicted of damaging a car worth £1342.72 in Arborfield on November 30, 2018. Also convicted of damaging the same car on December 1, 2018, and again on December 10, 2018 in Arborfield. Given a conditional discharge for 12 months and given a community order including electronic monitoring with a four week curfew. Also ordered to pay £500 compensation, fined £200, and ordered to pay £85 victim surcharge and £500 court costs. Disqualified from driving for one month.

JOCK CLARK, 27, of Ash Road in Tilehurst, Reading, convicted travelling on a Great Western Service without have paid the £5.50 train fare on February 15 at Tilehurst. Fined £440 and ordered to pay £5.50 compensation. Also had to pay £44 victim surcharge, plus £160 court costs.

MICHAEL DA SILVA, 37, of Northway in Newbury, convicted travelling on a Great Western Service without having paid the £9.10 train fare on February 13 at Theale. Fined £440 and ordered to pay £9.10 compensation. Must also pay £44 victim surcharge, and £160 court costs.

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JOSEPH DAVIES, 34, of Park Avenue in Thatcham, convicted travelling on a Great Western Railway service without having paid the £5.60 train fare on February 22, at Newbury Racecourse. Fined £440 and ordered to pay £5.60 compensation. Must also pay £44 victim surcharge and £160 court costs.

MICHAEL GRAHAM, of The Pit, Sonning, convicted of travelling on a Great Western Railway Service without having paid the £9.10 train fare in Reading on February 21. Fined £440, and ordered to pay £9.10 compensation. Must also pay £44 victim surcharge and £160 court costs.

MARIANNE GREY, 48, of Bodin Gardens, Greenham in Newbury, convicted of travelling on a Great Western Railway service without paying the £6.60 train fare. Fined £440 and ordered to pay £6.60 compensation. Must also pay £44 victim surcharge and £160 court costs.

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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.