Gillian Tyylforth, who is returning full-time to EastEnders has been handed a two-year driving ban after being stopped by police for drink driving while on her way to a mini cab office in Hertford.
Taylforth - who plays Kathy Beale in the BBC One soap - reportedly said to her arresting officer: "Aren't these [handcuffs] like the plastic ones we used on The Bill?"
She pleaded guilty to drink driving at an earlier hearing, before losing a bid today (May 8) to have the offence struck off as she claimed to have been driving to a taxi rank.
The actress told the court that she needed to drive her partner Dave Fairbairn to his cancer treatment, as he was already banned from driving.
However, she was banned for 24 months, and must also pay a £3,500 fine, £720 costs and a £120 government surcharge.
© BBC / Kieron McCarron
Gillian Taylforth as Kathy Beale
Police state she failed a breath test and was cautioned by police. However, she was soon handcuffed after "shouting and waving her arms around", according to PC Amanda Payne.
"In my opinion she was becoming irate and with her level of intoxication she was becoming unpredictable. As I was handcuffing her Taylforth has started to resist, I did relay along the lines of 'I don't care who she was'."
Taylforth's breath sample showed that she had 94 micrograms of alcohol in 100mls of breath blood, with the legal limit set at 35.
© PA Images / Ian West/PA Wire
She told the court: "We were only going to stay a little while as they wanted to go and watch the rugby. We stayed for a little while, had a small bite to eat. Dave said why don't we stay a little longer, we could have a few more drinks and leave the car. I didn't think about it at first, after a while when I thought I'll have a drink I did.
"We walked to the car, I reversed it and just drove around the corner and parked. I had no intention of driving any further whatsoever. I think I was in the car for about 12, maybe 14 seconds."
Gillian Taylforth made a surprise return to EastEnders earlier this year.
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