Judge who spared Oxford student Lavinia Woodward from jail for stabbing boyfriend investigated
Written by News on 29/09/2017
The judicial watchdog is investigating a complaint against a judge who spared an Oxford University student from jail for stabbing her boyfriend.
Ian Pringle QC gave Lavinia Woodward, 24, a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, on Monday for knifing her then partner in a drunken assault last year.
Woodward, a medical student at Oxford’s Christ Church college, was due to be sentenced earlier this year after admitting unlawful wounding, but the judge gave her four months to prove herself and stay out of trouble.
At the time the judge told her: "If this was a one-off, to prevent this extraordinarily able young lady from following her desire to enter the medical profession would be too severe."
Oxford Crown Court heard Woodward was later admitted to a clinic for treatment for addictions to Class A drugs and alcohol, and an eating disorder.
The sentencing decision sparked complaints – including from campaigners representing male victims of domestic violence – that the judge had been too lenient.
A spokesman for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) said: "The JCIO can confirm they have received a complaint against HHJ Ian Pringle QC.
"Any findings of misconduct against judicial office holders are published on the JCIO website at the conclusion of investigations."
The watchdog can "only deal with complaints about a judicial office-holder’s personal conduct – it cannot deal with complaints about judicial decisions or about case management", according to its website.
(c) Sky News 2017: Judge who spared Oxford student Lavinia Woodward from jail for stabbing boyfriend investigated
