The following cases were heard at Reading Magistrates’ Courts.

CHRISTIAN LEWIS, 49, of Chadwick Road, Slough, convicted of assault by beating of an emergency worker at HMP Bullingdon, Oxfordshire, on July 24, 2023 – by grabbing her throat. Sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for six months. Ordered to pay £50 compensation.

HARVIR JOHAL, 25, of Marlborough Road, Slough, convicted of criminal damage to a phone case worth £15 on January 11, 2023. Also convicted of assault by beating in Slough on the same date.  Given a conditional discharge for 12 months. Ordered to pay £100. Also ordered to pay £775 court costs and £26 victim surcharge.

STUART BUCKETT, 37, of Whitley Wood Lane, Reading, convicted of drug-driving in Chestnut Crescent, Shinfield, on October 20, 2023. Found to have Methylamphetamine in their system. Also convicted of two counts of drug-driving in Knowle Close, Reading, on December 27, 2023. Found to have cocaine and Methylamphetamine in their system. Sentenced to 14 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months due to flagrant disregard for court orders. Disqualified from driving for 36 months. Ordered to pay £85 court costs.

ABDULBARI ELZIADI, 26, of Norcot Road, Tilehurst, convicted of drug-driving in Vastern Road, Reading, on January 13, 2024. Found to have cannabis in their system. Given a community order to comply with 50 hours unpaid work. Ordered to pay £85 court costs and £114 victim surcharge. Disqualified from driving for 16 months.

RICKY RYAN, 39, of London Road, Newbury, convicted of stealing £70.83 of alcohol and meat from B&M in Newbury on June 4, 2024. Also convicted of assault by beating in Newbury on June 4, 2024. Given a community order to comply with an exclusion order to not enter the B&M store in London Road, Newbury, for six months.  Ordered to pay £50 compensation.

JOHN COOK, 38, Westwood Glen, Tilehurst, convicted of assault by beating of an emergency worker at Loddon Valley Police Station on May 17, 2024. Also convicted of criminal damage to a spyhole on a prison cell door and CCTV camera in the cell at Loddon Valley Police Station on May 17, 2024. Fined £300 and ordered to pay £150 compensation. Also ordered to pay £85 court costs and £120 victim surcharge.

PARIS NIMAKO, 29, of Beechey Place, Wokingham, convicted of drink-driving in Courts Road, Reading on June 15, 2024. Found to have 41mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35mcg. Fined £120. Also ordered to pay £85 court costs and £48 victim surcharge. Disqualified from driving for 12 months.

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, to assist the deterrent function of trials and to permit the revelation of matters of public interest. Costs include victim surcharge and courts charges.