EastEnders "villain" Goldie was in court for real yesterday as he got one over on the law.

The DJ-turned-actor was flanked by a minder throughout the short hearing as he successfully got a motoring conviction quashed.

The flamboyant star, who terrorised Albert Square as gangster Angel, scowled through a 60-second case at Newcastle Crown Court.

He was appealing against a fine he picked up last year and the Crown Prosecution Service admitted his case was too strong to argue with.

Goldie - real name Clifford Price - had been fined £152 and given three points on his otherwise clean licence when he appeared before South-East Northumberland Magistrates' Court last November 11.

He was charged with failing to identify who was driving his car when an offence was committed under Section 72 of the Road Traffic Act.

Goldie's car was seen crossing white lines on a section of road where it was illegal.

The police were notified and the car was traced to the actor.

He was given 28 days to provide police with the details of who was driving at the time the offence was committed, but failed to do so.

In his defence, he claimed he had been out of the country working as a DJ at the time. Another person has since been prosecuted for the original driving offence.

Goldie, wearing a long white coat and gold shirt, sat in the public gallery to hear that his previously unblemished character was intact.

He thanked the judge before leaving.