SEVERAL cases have been across the Crown and Magistrates courts in Berkshire this week.

Here is a round-up of some of those cases, from trial prep to sentences:

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A NEW trial date has been set for a Thames Valley Police officer accused of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child.

Slough officer Cerrig Shardlow has been accused of attempting to communicate with a child he allegedly believed was 13-years-old between May 30, 2022 and June 8, 2022.

Read more about this story here: Thames Valley officer accused of child sex crimes has new trial date

The conversations allegedly surrounded asking the person, which turned out to be an undercover officer, about their ‘sexual experiences and physical appearances’.

Shardlow, 44, who has been suspended from duty in his role as a sergeant, was originally due to stand trial on April 29 next year at Reading Crown Court after denying the offences at Reading Magistrates Court.

However, the trial has now been fixed as a fixed floater for August 29, 2024.

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AN employee of a second-hand electronics and entertainment store has admitted to stealing £14,260.58 from the company.

Vijay Kapur, of Queen Street in Maidenhead, was employed at a Cex Tech store in Slough when he was charged with one count of theft by employee.

The 35-year-old has pleaded guilty to stealing £14,260.58 from the store between January 31, 2022 and July 1, 2022.

Read more about this story here: Cex store employee admits to stealing over £14k from the store

At Slough Magistrates Court on July 4 this year, Kapur indicated guilty to the offence.

His case has now been committed Reading Crown Court for sentencing. A date and time has not yet been set for his hearing.

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AN IT security analyst has been jailed for almost four years after blackmailing an Oxford gene and cell therapy company for £300,000 worth of Bitcoin.

Ashley Liles, 27, of Fleetwood, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to ‘piggybacking’ on a security attack at his own company, Oxford BioMedica, in the hopes of the ransom money being sent to him.

Read more about this story here: IT security analyst jailed for blackmailing own company for £300k in Bitcoin

He was charged with gaining unauthorised computer access with intent to commit an offence and blackmail as well as unauthorised modification of computer material between February 28, 2018, and March 13, 2018. 

At Reading Crown Court on Tuesday (July 11), Liles was sentenced to 43 months by Judge Hassan Khan.

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A RAPIST has been jailed for eight years after raping a woman while she was unconscious in Reading.

Godwin Tsakadi, of Prince of Wales Avenue, Reading was found guilty by a jury at Reading Crown Court of one count of rape last week.

Read more about this story here: Rapist jailed for EIGHT years after assault against unconscious woman

The incident occurred on October 29, 2020 after the 50-year-old and the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been at a friend’s house after going out drinking.