Oxford student Lavinia Woodward has lost and appeal against her suspended sentence, after she was spared an immediate jail term following a judge's comments that she is 'highly intelligent'

An Oxford University medical student labelled 'too clever for prison' despite slashing her boyfriend with a bread knife has lost an appeal against her suspended sentence.

Lavinia Woodward, 25, attacked her then partner after drinking at her university accommodation at Christ Church college.

She was given a 10-month prison term suspended for 18 months at Oxford Crown Court in September last year after admitting unlawful wounding of Thomas Fairclough.

Judge Ian Pringle QC gave her four months to prove herself and stay out of trouble.

Critics said he had been too lenient because of her academic prowess and said the ruling demonstrated class bias in the legal process.

Despite this she appealed asking for a fine or conditional discharge - a punishment not classed as a conviction unless she breaks the law again.

In her trial her lawyers said her dreams of becoming a surgeon were now 'almost impossible' as her conviction would have to be disclosed.

Woodward admitted unlawful wounding for stabbing her ex-boyfriend Thomas Fairclough

The case sparked a debate about how criminals from different social backgrounds are treated

Woodward had also said had led a 'troubled life' included struggles with drug addiction and an abusive ex-boyfriends.

But three judges in the Court of Appeal threw the case out saying in her initial sentence the judge had already taken an 'exceptional course' in giving her the 'compassionate' suspended sentence.

Sitting with Lord Justice Simon and Mr Justice Goose, Judge Johannah Cutts said today: 'This offence was a serious one. She struck the complainant more than once with a serrated bread knife, injuring him on the leg and fingers.

'The fact it took place when she was drunk is also a significant aggravating factor.

'This nonetheless remained a serious offence, which in our view merited a custodial element to the sentence.'

Ms Woodward attacked her then partner after drinking at her university accommodation at Christ Church college

Judge Cutts added: 'We accept that she had powerful mitigation, all of which was taken into account by the judge.

'We reject the submission that the case could have appropriately been deal with by a fine or conditional discharge'.

The stabbing happened in December 2016 when Woodward's partner, a Cambridge University student, visited her in Oxford.

He realised she had been drinking and when Woodward discovered he had contacted her mother, she became 'extremely angry' and attacked him with a bread knife.

She also hurled a laptop, a glass and a jam jar at him during the violent clash at her accommodation at Christ Church.

During her trial she threw herself on the mercy of Judge Ian Pringle, who gave her the chance to avoid prison.

Woodward challenged her sentence at the Court of Appeal on Friday.

Her lawyers argued the 'exceptional' circumstances of her case - including her mental health difficulties - meant she could have been given a conditional discharge or a fine.

Appeal was to pursue her 'dream' of becoming a surgeon, court told Lavinia Woodward appealed her sentence to avoid her wounding conviction stopping her pursuing her career. In her trial her lawyers said her dreams of becoming a surgeon were now 'almost impossible' as her conviction would have to be disclosed. Woodward had also said had led a 'troubled life' included struggles with drug addiction and an abusive ex-boyfriends. Even the judge was concerned, he said, that imprisonment could affect her career. He said; 'It seems to me that if this was a one-off, a complete oneoff, to prevent this extraordinarily able young lady from following her long-held desire to enter the [medical] profession she wishes to would be a sentence which would be too severe'. Judge Ian Pringle QC gave her a suspended sentence rather than the expected custodial one. Despite this she appealed to the High Court asking for a fine or conditional discharge - a punishment not classed as a conviction unless she breaks the law again. But her career options would not be entirely blighted if she avoided prison because, in due course, any community penalty would be expunged. If she qualified as a doctor and applied for registration, the General Medical Council could still consider her application. Advertisement

Jim Sturman QC said the suspended sentence has affected her ability to find work.

He told the court: 'I appreciate it would be an exceptional course, but she is an exceptional candidate.'

Mr Sturman told the court Woodward has undergone voluntary drug tests and has been clean for the past 18 months.

He also said she has accepted she will never fulfil her ambition of becoming a heart surgeon, but hopes to pursue a career in medical research.

A character reference from her former professor at Oxford said she was the most talented undergraduate who had been in his laboratory over the past 25 years.

The court heard she had made an observation whilst studying which led to the founding of a research department at the university.

Lavinia Woodward's knife attack was the culmination of a pattern of behaviour by a deeply unstable young woman who had a 'very short fuse', people who knew her told the Mail last year.

Woodward was educated at The British School of Milan, formerly known as The Sir James Henderson School, where fees can top £16,000 a year and which is close to her mother's £1 million villa in the Italian village of Sirtori.

She left for Oxford in 2010 and came top in the pre-clinical tests all Oxford medical students take at the end of their third year.

Her name appears on a number of papers in prestigious academic journals, where she is credited with contributing to research.

Her ambition, she made it known at college, was to cure heart disease.