A MUM-of-two has been banned from driving for two years after driving on the wrong side of the road for two miles while under the influence of alcohol.

Lauren Gould narrowly avoided two head-on collisions and only came to a complete stop after five miles after leaving Southampton Central train station.

The 27-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and admitted to driving for two miles on the wrong side of the road.

Gould, of Milborne Crescent, Poole admitted that on December 21 on 2.30am she drove under the influence of alcohol.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the mum narrowly avoided two head-on collisions and only came to a stop after a total of five miles when she was forced to by a tanker lorry which had stopped on the road.

Gould also failed to provide a specimen.

Judge Peter Henry sentenced Gould to ten months in prison suspended for two years, 180 hours of unpaid work, a rehabilitation requirement and disqualified her from driving for two years.

He said that it was “lucky” that she did not collide with anyone else as there could have been “catastrophic results”.

He described her driving as “appalling” and “terribly dangerous” and told Gould that had it not been for her young children she would have been going straight to prison.

PC Rebecca Hodge, from the Roads Policing Unit said: “As the judge said in court, it was extremely lucky that no one was injured as a result of Gould’s dangerous driving.

“We hope this sentencing will act as a deterrent to anyone who thinks they can get away with putting people’s lives at risk by driving irresponsibly. We are committed to making roads in Hampshire safe for everyone.”