Drink-driver 'played dodgems' with police wrong way on A1
Sutherland drove "directly towards him" on the wrong side of the motorway in the darkness.
Prosecutor Neil Pallister told the court the officer described Sutherland "swerving across the nearside and centre lines then move between the centre and offside".
Mr Pallister added: "Meanwhile, the officer was trying to avoid the vehicle. To avoid collision,hehadtodrivealongthe tarmac verge.
"He estimates the vehicle travelled past him at about 80mph, still travelling in the wrong direction on the road."
The court heard Sutherland's car finally came to a standstill on the A194, after police at the scene had to "brake hard" to avoid another collision and then spotted her abandoned car.
She was found "sitting amongst nearby trees, smoking a cigarette".
Mr Pallister said: "She was described as heavily intoxicated, unable to stand unaided."
ThecourtheardSutherland was "well over" three times the legallimittodrywhenabreath test was carried out.
Mr Pallister said Sutherland had got behind the wheel ofherVolkswagenZafirainthe early hours of May 5 after leaving a "sad note" for her partner saying she "no longer wanted to be alive".
Sutherland, of no fixed address, admitted dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.
Judge Julie Clemitson sentenced her to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months,withrehabilitationrequirements and a two-month nighttime curfew.
Sutherlandwasgivenafiveyear road ban with extended test requirement.
The judge told her: "This was in the early hours of the morning.Therewassometraffic around, fortunately not as much as this was during lockdown period but there were HGVs and other people using the road at that time.
"You narrowly missed an off-duty police officer who was effectively playing dodgems on the three-lane motorway as you were pulling across lanes, coming towards him at speed in the dark.
"You created an extraordinarily dangerous situation for other road users.
"You were clearly very drunk and oblivious to your surroundings.
“You were not in a position tocontrolyourvehicleormake sensible choices or proper judgements.
"In addition, the vehicle was in a dangerous condition. By the time you were stopped, one tyre was completely gone and you were driving on the rim, on a motorway, at speed, in the early hours of the morning in darkness."
The judge said someone could have been seriously or fatally hurt.
Annalisa Moscardini, defending, said Sutherland is "deeplyashamed"ofwhathappenedandhasnomemoryofit.