A grossly intoxicated mother who put her young daughter and friend at serious risk when she drove them home has narrowly avoided a jail sentence.

Julia Anne Fyers, 30, was sentenced in Tauranga District Court yesterday in relation to a charge of driving with an excess breath alcohol which was more than four times the limit and two charges of drink-driving which was likely to cause injury.

Judge Thomas Ingram imposed nine months' home detention, and disqualified Fyers from driving indefinitely. Her car was also confiscated, and she was warned that any similar offending it would mean prison.