Outcry after ‘too clever for prison’ student walks free
Judge criticised for giving Oxford would-be surgeon who stabbed her boyfriend a suspended sentence
AN OXFORD medical student “too clever” to be given a prison sentence has been allowed to walk free from court – despite the judge acknowledging that she broke her bail conditions.
Lavinia Woodward, 24, who stabbed her University of Cambridge boyfriend in the leg with a breadknife, was spared jail yesterday after she was commended for her “strong and unwavering determination” to address her drug addiction.
As she left the courtroom, Woodward was seen mouthing the words “thank you” to the judge as she was ushered out of the dock in tears by her family.
The decision was last night criticised by criminal justice campaigners, who said that the lenient ruling would deter men who had fallen victim to domestic abuse from coming forward.
It comes four months after Judge Ian Pringle QC described Woodward, an aspiring heart surgeon, as an “extraordinarily able young lady”, whose talents meant that a prison sentence would be “too severe”.
Standing trial in May, Woodward had pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding, after she punched and stabbed Cambridge student Thomas Fairclough while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
The court had heard that Woodward had attacked Mr Fairclough, whom she had met on the dating app Tinder, when she discovered that he had contacted her mother regarding her drinking.
Enraged, she was said to have thrown a laptop at him before stabbing him with a knife, also injuring two of his fingers. Woodward then tried to stab herself with the knife, before Mr Fairclough managed to disarm and restrain her.
However, Judge Pringle told the court that he would take an “exceptional course” and defer sentence, hinting that she would be spared prison so as not to damage her chances of becoming a surgeon.
While awaiting sentence, Woodward had gone home to her mother’s villa in Milan, during which time she was seen shopping at fashion outlets while carrying a designer Chanel bag.
Resuming proceedings at Oxford Crown Court yesterday afternoon, Judge Pringle said that there had been “many, many mitigating features” in the case as he handed Woodward a
‘If she wasn’t educated, if she came from a deprived area, I don’t think she would have got the same sentence’
10-month jail sentence suspended for 18 months.
His comments followed pleas by James Sturman QC, Woodward’s legal counsel, that she be given a conditional discharge due to her “unique vulnerability, remorse and good character”.
The court heard that Woodward had been fired from a job at a shop in London 48 hours after being hired when she was recognised by a customer.
Despite breaching her bail conditions by texting her victim, Woodward was praised by Judge Pringle for confessing her “guilt” and “deep sorrow” for her actions.
After the hearing, John Azah, chief executive of the Kingston Race and Inequalities Council said: “If she wasn’t Oxford-educated, if she came from a deprived area, I don’t think she would have got the same sentence and been allowed to walk free.”