A MOTHER was sentenced to a one-year community order and banned from driving for two years after trying to drive the wrong way onto the M40 at Banbury.

Marta Lysiak, of Bretch Hill, Banbury, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to take a breath test on November 15 last year.

The 29-year-old, who will have to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, admitted driving the wrong way round the M40 junction 11 roundabout at Banbury at about 8.40pm.

Prosecutor Naomi Perry told Oxford Crown Court that police officers saw Lysiak “enter the M40 exit slip road against the flow of traffic” in a black Vauxhall Vectra.

Ms Perry said the part-time Aldi checkout assistant failed a roadside breath test after being pulled over and later refused to take a breath test at the police station.

She added the mother-of-one, who was in the car with her boyfriend, said she had visited friends in Chipping Norton and was “feeling ok to drive” after having two glasses of whisky.

Ms Perry said Lysiak, who has a Polish driving licence, said she had “missed” the road signs.

Defence barrister Robert Lindsey said Lysiak put her hazard warning lights on as soon as she realised what she had done.

He added: “She accepts it was dangerous, she accepts responsibility for what she has done.”

Mr Lindsey added Lysiak said she refused a breath test because she was in tears and had been crying after being arrested.

Judge Patrick Eccles said: “Frankly, it’s extraordinary how you failed to see those very clear signs that are on the well-lit junction which prevent you from doing exactly what you did.

“It was a mistake but it was a serious one because of the danger it created.”

Lysiak was also ordered to pay £500 costs, was banned from driving for two years and will have to pay a £60 victims’ surcharge.