FORMER EastEnders actress Leanne Lakey smuggled nearly three kilos of cocaine into the UK at the bottom of a suitcase, a court heard.
The actress, 39, who played Belinda Peacock in the BBC soap between 2001 and 2003, tried to sneak the drugs worth £150,000 past security at Gatwick Airport, Croydon Crown Court was told.
The prosecution alleged Lakey, from Essex, who appeared in the dock with co-accused Dean Shanahan, 47, had stashed the drugs in a bag.
It was further alleged the pair were in a joint enterprise to get the drugs into the country.
Both pleaded not guilty to one count of importing the Class A drug at Gatwick Airport on December 1, last year.
A gram of cocaine can sell for about £50 on the street, meaning 3kg would be worth about £150,000.
Waitress Lakey – who also appeared in Family Affairs – will return for a three-day trial later this year.
The actress trained at Chiswick’s Arts Educational School and has also appeared in Casualty, The Bill and Holby City.
Her character Belinda had returned to EastEnders recently but Lakey was dropped for another actress.
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Both Lakey and Shanahan were bailed on condition they reside at their recorded addresses and Shanahan must obey an electronically-tagged curfew between 10pm and 7am.
Lacey will also be allowed to stay at her boyfriend’s flat.
The trial is now expected to start on December 18.
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