A GRANDMOTHER convicted of grabbing a children’s disco dance teacher by the throat before a competition has lost her appeal against conviction.

Tracy Whitehead, 55, attacked Michelle Matthews after waiting outside the Littledown Centre from 6am on a Sunday morning in her dressing gown.

Now she claims she and her granddaughters have been banned from every dance school in Bournemouth.

And she told the Daily Echo: “It’s devastating for me. My seven-year-old says to me, ‘I want to dance, nan.’”

Bournemouth Crown Court heard Whitehead, of Frost Road, West Howe fell out with the teacher about which dance classes her grandchildren should be in at Mrs Matthews’ All Stars Dance Academy.

She was convicted of assault by beating at Poole magistrates’ court earlier this year but still denies the attack, despite losing the appeal.

The charge was upheld at Bournemouth Crown Court last week, meaning the defendant’s sentence of an 18-month conditional discharge and charges of £300 will stand.

A judge also ordered Whitehead pay a further £100 to cover the cost of the appeal.

The appeal heard Whitehead waited for Ms Matthews outside the centre on September 4 last year.

When her victim arrived, Whitehead - who was “wild and raging” - shouted and swore at her, the court was told. The defendant then followed the victim inside the centre before finally leaving.

After the assault, Mrs Matthews remained at the centre but said she felt unable to teach her students as she was left so “distressed”.

Whitehead was later arrested at her Bournemouth home and taken for interview.

During police questioning, she made further threatening comments about Mrs Matthews, officers said.

Mrs Matthews was not injured and there was no CCTV footage of the incident.

However, it was heard that Whitehead was known for being “loud and aggressive” at previous dance competitions.

Whitehead was also issued with a restraining order after the attack. The order is in place until December 2018.

Speaking from her home this week, Whitehead said she is considering appealing the conviction once again at the High Court.

“It’s been horrendous,” she said.

“I shouted and I swore, and if they charged me with that, I’d have pleaded guilty.

“But they said I grabbed her and I didn’t do it.”