Professional model and current Miss East Anglia, Joanna Peagram, has succeeded in a modest claim for damages against Colchester Institute, where she was a student in Performing Arts during 2005 when she was injured in a dance class on the course.

Joanna was represented in the case by personal injury specialist Steve Webb, from Colchester based solicitors Thompson Smith & Puxon. The judge ruled in her favour in a contested hearing at Colchester County Court, at which she was also represented by trial advocate John Brooke-Smith of East Anglian Chambers.

The case alleged that Colchester Institute had failed to take proper care for her health and safety in a dance class called ‘Stomp’, which involved using everyday objects such as dustbins and wooden planks to dance with and make music.

Joanna, from Frinton-on-Sea, who had to give up her ambition to become a professional dancer following the accident, said: “There were days when I couldn’t imagine what I would be doing with my life if I couldn’t dance, because that was all that I had ever done since the age of three. I pursued the claim on principle, because I wanted to ensure that the health and safety of dance students is given greater consideration in the future.”

Speaking of the case, she said: “I’d like to thank Steve Webb from Thompson Smith & Puxon for supporting me all the way through this case. He was always on the other end of the phone and was efficient and professional throughout. The court case was terrifying and he was fantastic.”

Joanna suffered concussion, whiplash and spinal injuries as a result of the accident. During the class she was told to run onto a wooden plank which was supported by a line of moving poles, but the plank flipped up and threw her to the floor.

Then 18, Joanna went on to complete her Performing Arts diploma, achieving a triple distinction, whilst receiving intensive physiotherapy and other medical support. She was unemployed for eighteen months during rehabilitation but succeeded in rebuilding her confidence through working as a holiday camp entertainer and cabaret artist. Her career took off when she was crowned Miss East Anglia in 2008 which led to national TV appearances.

Joanna says: “Thank you to all who assisted me in one way or another in this upsetting story to get my life back on track. Thank you to the team at Thompson Smith & Puxon solicitors, the medical specialists and my mother who is my rock, she has supported me all the way through my injury and kept me fighting through it all and finally my Uncle, Michael Thomas, who was always there when I needed him. It may not be the dancing dream, but I have loved the challenge and am enjoying where my new career is taking me.”

Next month Joanna’s first TV documentary will be screened on BBC TV. Her break-through into television came during the build up to Miss England when she did national television publicity to promote the contest. This led to an invitation to compere the first ever ‘Mini Miss and Little Man Pageant 2009’, a modelling and talent contest for Under 12 year-olds.