EASTENDERS star Jessie Wallace sobbed yesterday as she appeared in court accused of drink-driving.The 31-year-old actress is alleged to have been nearly one-and-a-half times over the limit after being breath-tested by police on Tuesday.

EASTENDERS star Jessie Wallace sobbed yesterday as she appeared in court accused of drink-driving.

The 31-year-old actress is alleged to have been nearly one-and-a-half times over the limit after being breath-tested by police on Tuesday.

Jessie, who plays tarty Kat Slater in the BBC soap, was at the wheel of a £32,000 Mercedes SLK 320 when she was arrested in Chelmsford.

A breath-test later revealed the star had 51microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Jessie, who gave her name as Karen Wallace, pleaded not guilty to the charge and the case was adjourned for two weeks for a pre-trial hearing.

The circumstances of how Jessie came to be breathalysed were not revealed at yesterday's hearing before Chelmsford magistrates.

Wearing a black mac, black trousers, and sunglasses with her hair tied back with pink flower, Jessie sobbed as she arrived at court for the afternoon hearing.

She again broke down in court when a member of the press successfully argued against an application by her lawyer James Mack to keep her address in Wansted, east London, out of the papers.

Mr Mack also unsuccesfully asked the magistrates to adjourn the case without Jessie having to enter a plea.

He said Jessie had not had the chance to consult solicitors "of her choice" about the charge.

Jessie looked confused when the clerk told her she must enter a plea and she replied: "Not guilty."

Jessie refused to comment as she left court with two other people in a silver taxi.