The following cases were heard at Reading Magistrates’ Court

December 22:

Michael David Faulkner, 55, of Pelican Lane, Newbury, admitted to committing an act outraging public decency by behaving in an indecent manner, namely exposing his genitals. He received a conditional discharge of five months and was ordered to pay costs totalling £105.

December 27:

Saugat Gurung, 24, of Electricity Sub Station, Reading, admitted to using threatening/abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm of distress. He was fined £100 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £30.

Zeke Jaylano Sylvan Allen, 18, of Caroline Court, Reading, admitted to possessing a controlled drug of Class B, namely cannabis/cannabis resin. He received a conditional discharge for 16 months and was ordered to pay costs totalling £40. The court also made an order for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.

Ashley Stephen James Birmingham, 24, of no fixed abode, admitted to damaging a drinks urn to the value of £30 belonging to Two Saints Hostel in Newbury. He received a conditional discharge for 12 months and was ordered to pay compensation of £30.

Connor Clarke, 18, of Commercial Road, Reading, admitted to failing to stop, using a motor vehicle without third-party insurance, driving a vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence and possessing a controlled drug of Class B, namely cannabis/cannabis resin. He was fined £260 and made to pay costs totalling £115. The court also made an order for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs and he had his driving licence endorsed with six penalty points.

Trevor Fish, 44, of Eeklo Place, Newbury, admitted to drink-driving and was fined £322. He was disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 12 months and ordered to pay costs totalling £117.

December 28:

Dale Hayward, 31, of Newtown Road, Newbury, admitted to 11 counts of theft from a shop and was committed to prison for eight months. The offences were aggravated as they were committed while he was subject to a community order. He was ordered to pay a surcharge of £115.

December 29:

Rebekah Rose Mary Gillespie, 24, of no fixed abode, admitted to two counts of theft from a shop, namely stealing food and drink to the value of £55.64 belonging to Tesco. She was fined £80 and ordered to pay compensation of £10.

Nimco Said, 31, of no fixed abode, admitted to being in possession of a controlled drug of Class B, namely cannabis, and using threatening/abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm of distress, with the offence deemed to be racially aggravated. She was fined £75 and made to pay a surcharge of £30. The court also made an order for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.

December 30:

Jermaine Shaun Paul, 37, of Southcote Road, Reading, admitted to causing criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, namely a Buddi tag to the value of £520. He was committed to prison for four weeks and the offence was deemed to be aggravated as it was committed while he was on licence and also due to the defendant’s record of offending. He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £115.

Adrian Gareth Lewis, 53, of Kennet Heath, Thatcham, admitted to stealing a bicycle to the value of £550 from Thatcham Station and another bicycle to the value of £650 from Wokingham Station. He received a community order and will be required to complete a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement for nine months. He must also take part in a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement for a maximum of 25 days. He was ordered to pay compensation of £1,200.

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, as a deterrent to perjury, to assist the deterrent function of criminal trials and to permit the revelation of matters of public interest.