A drink driver put lives at risk when she travelled the wrong way down a city centre dual carriageway with no headlights on.
Security guard Monika Karasauskaite had been at a concert at the O2 Arena, in Newcastle, but decided to get behind the wheel of her Ford Fiesta to get home, despite having consumed alcohol.
A court heard police were travelling south on St James' Boulevard when they saw the 31-year-old coming directly towards them.
Go here for the latest reports and live updates from North East courts
The mum-of-one had no headlights on her vehicle and was driving north on the southbound carriageway.
She was pulled over and arrested after failing to roadside breath test.
Now, Karasauskaite, of St Cuthberts' Avenue, in South Shields, has been fined and disqualified from driving for 18 months after she pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.
Lillian Yanes Hellevik, prosecuting at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court, said officers were on St James' Boulevard at around 10.50pm on October 5 this year.
Mrs Yanes Hellevik added: "This is a stretch of dual carriageway separated by a central reservation.
"The officers' attention was drawn to the defendant's vehicle because it was travelling with no headlights on and was travelling towards them the wrong way along the carriageway."
The court heard that Karasauskaite, who has no past convictions, was pulled over and immediately admitted she had been drinking.
She later gave a reading of 61 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath when the legal limit is just 35.
Michael Crowe, defending, said Karasauskaite came to the UK from Lithuania in 2009 and looks after her disabled son and aging mother.
On the day in question, she had been on a "rare night out".
Mr Crowe added: "She had driven to a concert at the O2 Arena and was not intending to drink but, unfortunately, she accepts she had some alcohol after being encouraged by her friend."
Karasauskaite was fined £300 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.
For crime news in your area direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter
