College student who stabbed boyfriend might be spared prison because of her 'extraordinary' talent

An Oxford University student who stabbed her boyfriend in the leg during a heated argument last year may avoid prison because it could damage her future career, according to a UK judge.

Lavinia Woodward, 24, stabbed her boyfriend in the leg with a bread knife September 30, 2016, during a raging feud, which was reportedly fueled by drugs and alcohol.

She also allegedly threw a glass jar and a laptop at the man, a PhD student who she met on Tinder, during the fight.

Photo: Facebook

Woodward, who is studying to be a heart surgeon at Christ Church College at Oxford, pled guilty to unlawful wounding at Oxford Crown Court.

While Judge Ian Pringle said this type of offense normally merits jail time, he deferred Woodward's sentencing for four months and hinted that she would not be jailed due to her ''extraordinary'' talent, according to the Telegraph.

"It seems to me that if this was a one-off, a complete one-off, to prevent this extraordinarily able young lady from not following her long-held desire to enter the profession she wishes to, would be a sentence which would be too severe," he said in court.

"What you did will never, I know, leave you but it was pretty awful, and normally it would attract a custodial sentence, whether it is immediate or suspended."

The university, too, backed up the court's decision.

Woodward will reportedly be allowed to return to her studies in October because she "is that bright" and has had multiple articles published in medical journals.

Unfortunately, Woodward's attorney James Sturman believes that the young woman's dreams of becoming a surgeon are now "almost impossible," as her conviction will have to be disclosed to potential employers, regardless of if she serves jail time or not.

Sturman also mentioned that his client has had "a very troubled life," including struggles with addiction and abuse at the hand of another ex-boyfriend.

Francis FitzGibbon, the chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, said on Wednesday that this, along with a number of other circumstances, likely contributed to Pringle's decision to delay Woodword's sentencing.

Besides showing remorse, Woodward pleaded guilty, had no previous convictions and was involved in a single incident, according to the Associated Press.

"To seize upon a single throwaway remark by the judge is probably unfair because it doesn't represent the process," he said.

Until her actual sentencing on September 25, Woodward has been given a restraining order and warned to stay drug-free.