News

Woodward heads from the bar to the dancefloor

NOTORIOUS former nanny Louise Woodward has left her job as a trainee lawyer with an Oldham firm for a new career as a salsa dance teacher.

Louise took the job with North Ainley Halliwell on Clegg Street, in January 2004, after gaining special permission from the Law Society to enable her to practise law despite having a criminal record.

However, she has now turned her back on the courtroom and is heading for the dancefloor, as she plans to release a series of learn to dance DVDs with her boyfriend, Richard Colley, who is a qualified dance instructor. The pair can make £450 a time dancing at corporate events and private parties.

Louise, 27, gained a degree in law on her return to Britain after she was found guilty of the murder of eight-month-old Matthew Eappen while working as an au pair in Boston, USA, in 1997. Following 279 days in jail, she was freed by an appeal judge who reduced her conviction to involuntary manslaughter.

Although she described her law career as a ‘crusade’ and said she wanted to study the field to help people in the same situation as she was, Louise said she eventually decided to follow her instincts and pursue a career in dancing.

When we spoke to her last year, she said: “I’m looking forward to spending the long term in Oldham and am very happy to be starting my career here.”

However, Louise decided to quickstep away from the legal textbooks, despite all her years of studying, as she said her experiences in America had taught her life was really precious. Although she admitted it may not seem the most sensible decision, she said her greatest fear was looking back and regretting not having tried something new.

A spokesman for North Ainley Halliwell said: “We are aware that Louise is pursuing a career in dancing and we wish her well.”