Medical student who was spared jail for stabbing boyfriend because of her 'extraordinary' talent may exploit loophole to go back to her studies at Oxford

Student who stabbed boyfriend with a knife could be vying for loophole

Lavinia Woodward is thought to be taking advantage of disciplinary procedure

She could improve her chances of readmission by playing for more time

Case caused anger when judge appeared to suggest she was too 'able' for jail

Sentencing was delayed and she was freed admitting unlawful wounding

The 24-year-old returned to court today to find out whether she will be jailed

She was given a suspended sentence after the judge took mercy on her

Court hears break before sentencing has allowed her to become drug-free

A medical student who was dubbed 'too clever for prison' is thought to have exploited a loophole in the Oxford University disciplinary process to avoid expulsion.

Lavinia Woodward, 24, was handed a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, for stabbing her boyfriend in the leg. 

Due to the university's disciplinary procedures, a staff panel that will decide whether she should be expelled cannot make their ruling until she states her desire to return. 

It had been thought that Woodward would leave the university voluntarily.

Her legal counsel, James Sturman, QC, said she was 'reluctant' to return because she was feared for being recognised. 

Now, due to a prolonged period of uncertainty, there are fears the 24-year-old is playing for more time in order to improve her chances of readmission to Oxford. 

It comes one month after she walked free from court after Judge Ian Pringle QC ruled that a custodial sentence would be too harsh for a woman of her ability.

Woodward had pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding earlier this year for stabbing her ex-boyfriend and Cambridge student Thomas Fairclough. 

Oxford Crown Court heard she stabbed him in the leg with a breadknife while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. 

Judge Pringle's ruling outraged quality activists who questioned whether such a lenient sentence would have been imposed should a working-class student have been involved. 

They also said that, due to the high-profile nature of the case, that it could deter other victims of domestic to come forward.

Since the trial, Woodward is reported to have returned home to her parents' villa in Italy. 

She is also undergoing drug rehabilitation which is said to have prompted a substantial change to her character. 

A source at Oxford University told The Telegraph that both the Medical faculty and Proctor's office would be forced to wait until 2019 before they reached a decision. 

They added that Woodward could be trying to 'set the terms' of the process so that she is looked on more favourably once she completes her sentence.