An ambulance crashed into a bus stop after a woman got inside to eat her pizza.

The emergency vehicle was on a emergency call and was parked outside a patient’s house in Dyke Road, Brighton, when the incident happened.

The St John ambulance rolled 20 metres down the street before “demolishing” the bus stop sign at about 11pm on Friday.

Yesterday Emma Dawson, 35, denied a single count of interfering with a vehicle when she appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecuting, David Packer, told the court that paramedics were preparing to take a patient to hospital when they realised their ambulance had gone.

He added the vehicle could be seen “20 metres down the street” and had crashed into a sign.

Dawson, of Leopold Road, Brighton, spoke to confirm her address and age before telling District Judge Stephen Nicholls: “I’ve been in the cells for two days.”

Paula Bristow, defending, said Dawson had only been in the ambulance to eat her pizza and shelter from the rain.

Dawson, who does not work for health reasons, was released on bail with the conditions she signs on daily at Hove police station. She was also instructed to obey a 9pm until 7am curfew and continue to live at her address in Leopold Road.

She is due to appear for trial at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on May 12.