Magistrates' courts deal with up to 98% of criminal cases, but many people have little idea what happens inside.

Few know they are open to the public and people can watch justice being administered first hand - a luxury not enjoyed in every country.

Reporter Alex Claridge spent the day at Canterbury Magistrates' Court to shed some light on the goings on.....

9.45am

As I arrive at court I am greeted by the sight of a man retrieving a can of Scrumpy Jack cider from the security guard.

Booze isn’t allowed in the building, but court users will often leave it at reception for later.

The man cracks the can open outside and declares: “I’m Reggie Kray.”

10am

The first defendant is Sean Rawlings, from Faversham Road, Kennington.

Many Ashford cases are now heard in Canterbury since the town’s own magistrates court shut last year.

Rawlings, 32, who is accused of breaching a non-molestation order by having sex with a woman he was banned from contacting, comes dressed casually and carrying a rucksack.

He pleads not guilty. The case will be sent to the crown court and Rawlings is released on bail.

10.10am

The next case is a perfect example of the rehabilitative work courts do.

Stuart Meszaros, 41, of Bakers Lane in Chartham, has a history of drug and alcohol abuse – he was once seen injecting heroin into his groin in front of children at Toddlers’ Cove, Canterbury.

But Meszaros is at court today because he has successfully completed a community order and received a positive report from the probation service.

Chairman of the bench Patricia Light tells him: “This is an excellent report and a real achievement.”

10.20am

Defendant three is Stanislaus Muradzikwa, of Bybrook Road in Kennington. The 21-year-old admits possessing cannabis.

Magistrates spend a few minutes in the retiring room deciding on their punishment of a £100 fine, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge - which is more of a tax levied on all people receiving a fine regardless of whether there was an actual victim -as in this case there wasn't.

10.40am

A diminutive lady called Sally Lyndsell, from Station Road, Chartham, is the next defendant.

She is accused of dishonestly using a bank card to make cash withdrawals and transactions.

The case cannot proceed and is transferred to Canterbury Crown Court for November 19. Lyndsell, 37, is released on bail.

10.43am

The court is speeding through cases as Edward Pope, 25, from Crownfield Road in Ashford, enters the dock.

He admits stealing three sandwiches worth £10.

His solicitor, Duane Bridger tells the court Pope is due back to court on October 25 to be sentenced for other convictions, following the preparation of a mental health report and a pre-sentence report (PSR) by the probation service.

Magistrates, or even judges for that matter, will often not sentence without a PSR and they can take three weeks to prepare.

10.47am

Darren Vosper, a bald chap from Herne Bay, is another of the day’s success stories.

The 46-year-old from Victoria Park is in court to hear his community order will be revoked for good progress.

His suspended sentence will remain, but magistrates are pleased with him.

Vosper agrees: “This order came at the right time for me. I’ve got a bad history of offending, but this has changed my life and made me look at things differently.”

10.50am

Magistrates retire to read PSRs for other cases. Chat in the courtroom turns to weddings and an exhibition at London’s Alexandra Palace.

11.00am

The magistrates return to deal with the case of Rebecca Wadey, of Bradbridge Green, Singleton.

This petite 31-year-old is exactly the sort of defendant who will almost certainly never see the inside of a courtroom again.

Charged with drink driving after a night at a pub and house party, she admits being nearly three times the legal limit.

Her demeanour suggests attending court is one of the most terrifying experiences of her life.

Midway through the case the fire alarm goes off and solicitors, defendants and anyone else in the building are shepherded outside.

An usher dons a hi-vis coat over his suit.

Minutes later the case resumes and defence solicitor Victoria Urmossy explains that Wadey had been eager to impress a new group of friends that night and had drunk vodka.

Wadey, who has a job and no previous convictions, is banned for two years.

She must also pay £85 costs and do 100 hours of unpaid work.

Magistrates offer her the drink drive rehabilitation course, which costs £192 and will reduce her ban by a quarter.

11.40am

Another small woman in the form of Emma Howard, 29, of Beaver Road in Ashford, enters the dock.

Wearing a dress one might expect to see on a night out, she pleads guilty to four counts of falsely making statements to obtain benefit.

She admits receiving income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit while having more than £16,000 in a bank account in her name.

She failed to declare the money when applying for benefits and as such was overpaid £9,705. The case is then halted so a fax from Liverpool can be sent.

12.10pm

While awaiting the fax, the clerk calls on the next case – that of Benji Worton, from Downs Road in Canterbury.

He admits missing probation appointments, but says there are “mitigating circumstances”.

He has been in Machester looking after the widow of his brother, who was beaten to death with a pick-axe handle.

The 29-year-old will have to do six employment and training sessions and pay £50 court costs, which will be added to other payments he is making.

12.35pm

Daniel Evans, 23, of Littlebourne Road, Canterbury, appears in custody. He faces charges of harassment and making threats to kill – both against Amy Sillitoe.

The court has directed a crown court trial. His solicitor Ian Bond makes no representations and Evans is returned to the cells below the courtroom.

12.38pm

A 53-year-old man from Old Dover Road, Canterbury, is next into the dock. David Graham pleads not guilty to assaulting Catherine Gerrard.

There is some legal to-ing and fro-ing between prosecutor Toyin Kuti and advocate Chidi Umez, which cannot be reported.

The case was adjourned until October 25, when Graham is due back before Canterbury magistrates. Lunch is called at 12.50pm.

2.05pm

Court resumes to conclude the case of Emma Howard. Solicitor Chidi Umez says Howard had received an inheritance of £30,000, but although the account was in her name, it was not money she had access to and was being kept for her son.

Magistrates give her a 12-month community order with 120 hours unpaid work. She will also have to pay court costs of £100.

2.25pm

Lewis Lambert, of Hillbrow Avenue, Sturry, is next. Lambert, 23, admits causing £100 of damage to a door at his mother’s house, assaulting his mother and obstructing a police officer.

He denies assaulting his brother and that charge is withdrawn. The court hears how Lambert returned home after a night out and demanded money to pay for a cab before going berserk. Police were called to the house and used leg restraints on him.

Lambert can remember little of what happened and as the details emerge, he looks genuinely disgusted with himself.

Magistrates ask for a PSR on an “all options basis”, meaning he could be jailed.

The case is adjourned until November 8 and Lambert released on bail.

2.45pm

Magistrates now turn to issuing warrants for defendants who have not turned up.

There are three, including one for Matthew Parker, of Creine Mill Lane North, Canterbury, who is charged with possession of cocaine and heroin.

Having been bailed until 10am, it later emerges Parker turns up at the court at 4pm.

2.50pm

Another benefit cheat is in the dock. Karen Barrett-Fisher, 50, of Central Parade, Herne Bay, is disabled so allowed to remain seated when she is asked to identify herself and enter pleas.

She admits claiming benefits while failing tell authorities she owns a house in Spain. She was overpaid £3,220.

Sophie Reed, defending, says Barrett-Fisher has a “number of ailments, serious mental health issues, is agoraphobic, has acute asthma and has problems with her bones”.

Magistrates give her a six-month community order with a reducing offending programme plus £100 costs.

3.22pm

Young mother Stacey Manwaring has been at court since 9.30am and is finally called. She has already admitted assaulting two women in Herne Bay on different nights this year.

One of her victims suffered swollen eyes and a bleeding nose, leaving her with a permanent scar.

Manwaring, 20, of Richmond Street, sobs when the magistrates return to court to sentence her.

She is handed a 56-day suspended sentence and must pay £2,250 in compensation to her victims and £50 court costs at the rate of £10 per week – a task that will take her almost four and a half years.

4.55pm

Court finishes for the day.