Weighing up his options, Judge Burgess said: “Court five is not cold. “Other courts are too hot, but I believe court five is about right. “I have observed some members of the jury who have been visibly struggling with the cold.” Defence counsel Lyall Thompson agreed with the jury that courtroom two was “unusually cold”. After a small debate, it seemed as though the jury and everyone else involved in the proceedings would be transferred to court five. But this hope was swiftly denied when the clerk told the Judge that all technology in this courtroom had been disconnected, which was an issue for the trial as the court was set to hear video evidence.
Reading Crown Court: Stalker from Newbury assaulted prison staff
Judge warns defendant will likely receive custodial sentence
John Garvey
A CONVICTED stalker will likely be jailed for his crime, a judge has warned.
Meanwhile the 30-year-old from Newbury has reportedly got himself into fresh trouble – by assaulting a prison officer.
Andrew William Dobson, of Elizabeth Avenue, had been awaiting sentencing in custody, having been refused bail by Reading magistrates last month.
He was due to have been brought from prison to the dock at Reading Crown Court to learn his fate on Thursday, March 11.
Amy King, prosecuting, and Rhian Wood, defending, had assembled for the hearing but Dobson did not appear.
Reading Crown Court: drug dealer celebrated freedom - by flouting court order
Defendant broke restraining order, judge told
John Garvey
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A DRUG dealer was so delighted to avoid an immediate prison term he went out to celebrate. and ended up back in the dock
That put Andrew James Pridham’s freedom at risk once more after he broke a restraining order imposed for offences against a woman.
On Monday, January 18, he turned up for sentencing at Reading Crown Court with an overnight bag packed, prepared for the worst.
The 42-year-old, who used to live in Thatcham High Street and now lives at The Slade, Bucklebury, had been convicted of possessing the Class B-controlled drug cannabis with intent to supply it in Thatcham in January last year.