The following cases were heard at Reading or Slough Magistrates’ Court.

TERRY SMITH, 62, of Westminster Way, Lower Earley, convicted of common assault in Earley on January 25, 2023, and convicted of assault by beating on February 8, 2023. Given a community order to comply with a curfew using electronic monitoring. Also ordered to undertake 50 hours of unpaid work, and must pay £500 court costs and £300 compensation.

KYE SOMERVILLE, 19, of Keates Green, in Bracknell, convicted of possession of a flip knife with a locking blade on June 1 in Church Road, Bracknell. Sentenced to four months in prison suspended for 12 months due to severity of the offence and must undertake 75 hours of unpaid work. Ordered to pay £85 court costs and £154 victim surcharge.

EDWARD JEFFREY, 48, of Derwent Road, Thatcham, convicted of wounding or inflicting GBH without intent in Newbury on June 30, 2023. Sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 12 months due to severity of the offence and it being ‘unprovoked attack of a serious nature’. Must also undertake 200 hours of unpaid work and pay £5,000 compensation.

STEPHEN AGGREY, 64, of Aldborough Spur in Slough, convicted of assault by beating on April 19, 2023, and racially or religiously aggravated common assault in Slough on September 18, 2023. Also convicted of criminal damage to property belonging to Thames Valley Police in Maidenhead on September 19, 2023. Sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months due to previous convictions of similar offending. Must pay £300 compensation.

MALCOLM SUTHERLAND, 22, of Johnstone Close, Bracknell, convicted of assault by beating in Bracknell, on November 23, 2023. Given a community order to comply with rehabilitation activity and must stay away from specified area. Must pay £100 compensation, and £85 court costs.

MARIAN ENUTA, 20, of Whitley Street, convicted of stealing three mobile phones from Three in Newbury worth £2,989 on January 12, 2024. Fined £500. Also ordered to pay £250 compensation, and £200 court costs.

GIANNI GARZIA, 24, of Dunoon Close, Calcot, convicted of two counts of drug-driving in New Lane Hill, Reading, on December 24, 2023. Found to have cocaine in their system. Fined £126. Also ordered to pay £85 court costs and £48 victim surcharge. Disqualified from driving for 12 months.

JAY DYCE, 34, of Westall Street, Shinfield, convicted of two counts of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour to cause fear at the Bell and Bottle pub in Shinfield, Reading. Fined £500. Also ordered to pay £85 court costs and £400 victim surcharge.

CAMERON GRUBER, 20, of Mason Street, Reading, convicted of possession of a Class B drug cannabis in Reading on May 15, 2024. Given a conditional discharge for 12 months. Also ordered to pay £85 court costs.

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.