A PLANT hire company has been ordered to pay £7,500 after illegally tapping into Thames Water hydrants in London and Berkshire for the second time in two years. Quattro Plant Ltd was prosecuted by Thames Water after the company caught workers using illegal standpipes to take water from hydrants in Winnersh and Croydon in May and October last year. Appearing at Reading Magistrates Court on March 19, director Adam Richardson pleaded to offences under the Water Industry Act 1991 and the Water Supply and Fitting Regulations 1999. The company, which was fined more than £8,000 in 2019 for seven similar offences, was ordered to pay £7,502. Claire Rumens, Thames Water’s illegal connections manager, said: “We work hard around the clock to cut leakage from our network and ask our customers to use water wisely, so it is not fair for others to take water without paying.
George Yanni, of Copenhagen Close, Reading, took the Armani smellies from Boots in December 2019. He stole nine bottles on his first trip to the store, and ten bottles a week later. In total, his haul was worth £1,197. The 41-year-old pleaded guilty in December 2020 but was only sentenced at Reading Magistrates Court last week (April 14). He has been sent to prison for two weeks.
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Andrew Smith / Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading A TRIAL will take place later this year after a Reading man denied bringing a kitchen knife to the Royal Berkshire Hospital. Robert Dee, of Russell Street, Reading pleaded not guilty to bringing the blade into the NHS building in November last year. He also refuted allegations he assaulted two paramedics on the same day in October 2020. The 43-year-old’s case was discussed at Reading Magistrates Court last week (April 15), although the defendant was not present. Mr Dee, who also goes by the name of Bob Brewer, has been remanded on unconditional bail until 11 October 2021, when he will return to court for his a summary trial.
SHOPLIFTERS of small and large items are always appearing in court charged with taking what isn’t theirs. Here are some shoplifters from around Berkshire who have been in the dock for thieving over the past few weeks.
Laura Mason, stole meat worth £280 from a Co-op supermarket on two days back in June 2020. Having previously pleaded guilty, the 42-year-old from Washington Drive in Slough changed her plea at Reading Magistrates Court earlier this month. She was due to appear at Slough Magistrates Court again on Friday, April 16.
Leanne McDonald nicked perfume and other goods totalling more than £1,100 from Sainsbury’s in August of last year.