A nurse who pulled the keys from the ignition of a moving car while her son was driving has been told by a judge it was “lunatic behaviour”.

Iwona Zielinska’s actions during an argument with her son Bartosz caused two pedestrians to fall into a bush after taking evasive action when the Toyota Yaris mounted a pavement in Bury St Edmunds.

The incident occurred near South Lee School in Nowton Road at around 11.50am November 10 last year.

Zielinska, of York Road, Bury St Edmunds, appeared at Ipswich Crown Court for a plea and case management hearing yesterday and admitted causing danger to road users by interfering with a motor vehicle by removing the keys from the ignition.

The 46-year-old Sister at West Suffolk Hospital was fined £200 and ordered to pay £1,200 prosecution costs as well as a £20 victim surcharge.

Sentencing Zielinska Judge David Goodin said:” What you did could have had disastrous consequences - it is fortunate it didn’t.

“You are in every respect a hard working, exemplary member of society. West Suffolk Hospital is lucky to have you. This serious offence is wholly out of character and was unplanned. It was conceived and completed within two or three seconds.

“You should know from accident and emergency, of which you have seen a great deal, that fiddling about with the controls of a motor vehicle when you are not at the wheel is lunatic behaviour.

“You weren’t on this occasion malicious or aware that what you were doing was appallingly dangerous. Luckily nobody was hurt.”

Zielinska told police that she and her son have a volatile relationship and had argued over money and a computer.

Zielinska also said she works long hours and gets very tired.

She is reported to have told her son she would take her car back after their argument escalated.

Fearing he was going to leave her marooned somewhere, she grabbed the keys from the ignition causing the Toyota Yaris to mount the kerb.