Lavinia Woodward: Oxford University student deemed 'too clever for prison' spared jail for stabbing boyfriend

An Oxford University student who a judge suggested was “too clever” to go to prison has been spared jail for stabbing her boyfriend in a drug and drink-fuelled attack.

Lavinia Woodward, 24, was handed a 10-month suspended prison sentence on Monday at Oxford Crown Court.

The aspiring heart surgeon had admitted knifing Thomas Fairclough in the leg with a bread knife as well as throwing a glass, a jam jar and a laptop at him at Christ Church College.

Judge Ian Pringle QC previously said a jail sentence may be “too severe” for Woodward because it could ruin her medical career. He added that the actions of the “extraordinary able young lady” appeared to be a “complete one-off”.

At the sentencing today, Judge Pringle said: "There are many mitigating features in your case.

"Principally, at the age of 24 you have no previous convictions of any nature whatsoever.

"Secondly, I find that you were genuinely remorseful following this event and, indeed, it was against your bail conditions, you contacted your partner to fully confess your guilt and your deep sorrow for what happened.

"Thirdly, whilst you are a clearly highly-intelligent individual, you had an immaturity about you which was not commensurate for someone of your age."

Judge Pringle went on: "Fourthly, as the reports from the experts make clear, you suffer from an emotionally-unstable personality disorder, a severe eating disorder and alcohol drug dependence.

"Finally, and most significantly, you have demonstrated over the last nine months that you are determined to rid yourself of your alcohol and drug addiction and have undergone extensive treatment including counselling to address the many issues that you face.

"In particular, you have demonstrated to me since I adjourned this matter in May a strong and unwavering determination to do so despite the enormous pressure under which you were put and which has been referred to me by your counsel."

Woodward began a relationship with a Cambridge University student in October last year, having met on dating app Tinder.

But, the court heard, she was still suffering a "very damaging" previous relationship, in which she had been introduced to Class A drugs.

On December 30, Woodward's partner visited her in Oxford and realised she had been drinking and contacted her mother via Skype.

"When you discovered this, you became extremely angry, starting to throw objects around. It is clear from the transcript of the 999 call that your partner summoned the help of the police before you picked up a bread knife which was in the room and struck a blow with it to his lower leg," the judge said.

"In the course of the incident two of his fingers also received cuts. Your partner managed to partly restrain you, albeit then you started to turn the knife on yourself and he had to further disarm you to prevent further self-harm.

"When the emergency services arrived it was abundantly clear that you were intoxicated, deeply distraught and mentally disturbed. You were taken to the police station in a very distressed state."