The following cases were heard at Reading Magistrates’ Courts:

January 27:

MATTHEW AXFORD, 29, of Basingstoke Road, Reading, admitted criminal damaging to a BT remote headset worth £69.99 belonging to Thames Valley Police on December 26. Fined £80. Also ordered to pay £69 compensation, £34 victim surcharges and £85 court costs. 

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PIOTR ADAMCZUK, 43, of Bray Road, Reading, admitted drink-driving on Pell Street, Reading, on December 25. Found to have 131mcg alcohol per 100ml breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35mcg. Given a community order including 150 hours unpaid work. Also ordered to pay £95 victim surcharge and £85 court costs. Disqualified from driving for 30 months. 

January 28:

JOSEF CLARIDGE, 19, of Horseshoe End, Newbury, admitted drink-driving on Northcroft Lane, Newbury, on December 26. Found to have 49mcg alcohol per 100ml breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35mcg. Fined £184. Also ordered to pay £34 victim surcharge and £85 court costs. Disqualified from driving for 14 months. 

SEAN BENTON, 36, of Almond Drive, Thatcham, admitted failing to provide a specimen for analysis at Abingdon Police Station on December 4, and admitted failing to surrender to custody in Reading Magistrates Court on January 5. Given a community order including rehabilitation activity requirement. Also ordered to pay £95 victim surcharge, £85 court costs, and £50 fine. Disqualified from driving for 12 months. 

PAUL LAWRENCE, 48, of Calder Close, Tilehurst, convicted of common assault in Reading on November 4, 2019. Also admitted obstructing or resisted a constable in execution of duty in Reading on November 4, 2019. Given a community order including rehabilitation activity requirement, and a conditional discharge for 12 months. Also ordered to pay £90 victim surcharge and £500 court costs.

Reading Chronicle:

January 29:

JAMIE ANDREWS, 47, of London Street, Reading, admitted stealing an ipod and sunglasses from a motor vehicle in Reading on July 29, 2019, and admitted possession of heroin in Earley on July 29, 2019. Also admitted stealing £1.03 cash from a motor vehicle in Reading on July 29, 2019, and admitted failing to surrender to custody at Reading Magistrates Court on September 2, 2020. Also admitted three charges of fraud by false representation, namely by using a bank card belonging to another to buy goods from a convenience store in Reading on October 6, 2019. Sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months. Also ordered to pay £29 compensation, £128 victim surcharge and £85 court costs. 

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February 1:

LOUISE BEASLEY, 27, of Drovers Way, Woodley, admitted stealing cosmetics worth £929 from Boots in Bracknell on May 20. Given a community order including rehabilitation activity requirement. Also ordered to pay £95 victim surcharge and £85 court costs. 

ELIZABETH MEAD, 46, of Sherbourne Drive, Woodley, admitted failing to stop a vehicle when asked by a police officer on Loddon Bridge Road, Woodley, on January 31, and admitted driving without the correct insurance on Loddon Bridge Road, Woodley on January 31. Also admitted driving whilst disqualified on Loddon Bridge Road, Woodley, on January 31, and admitted failing to comply with a community order made by Worcestershire Magistrates Court by failing to attend an unpaid work session on October 7, 2019, and October 14, 2019. Also convicted of original offence which a community order was first made, namely drug-driving on M5, Worcester, on October 1, 2017 having been found with cocaine in her blood. Sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, due to severity of offence and due to ‘flagrant disregard for court orders’ plus record of offending. Also ordered to pay £122 victim surcharge. Disqualified from driving for eight months. 

A fundamental principle of justice is that it must be seen to be done. 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.