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Man who left girlfriend blind jailed indefinitely Man who left girlfriend blind jailed indefinitely
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A man who left his girlfriend blind after gouging her eyes in what police called a "premeditated, sustained and vicious attack", has been jailed indefinitely.A man who left his girlfriend blind after gouging her eyes in what police called a "premeditated, sustained and vicious attack", has been jailed indefinitely.
Shane Jenkin, 33, strangled Tina Nash until she lost consciousness and then gouged her eyes and broke her jaw and nose. Attempts to save her sight failed and she was left completely blind.Shane Jenkin, 33, strangled Tina Nash until she lost consciousness and then gouged her eyes and broke her jaw and nose. Attempts to save her sight failed and she was left completely blind.
Jenkin, 1.93m (6ft 4in) tall and powerfully built, was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection. Judge Christopher Harvey Clark QC fixed the minimum term at six years and said Jenkin should be detained at a secure psychiatric hospital.Jenkin, 1.93m (6ft 4in) tall and powerfully built, was given an indeterminate sentence for public protection. Judge Christopher Harvey Clark QC fixed the minimum term at six years and said Jenkin should be detained at a secure psychiatric hospital.
Nash sat in the public gallery of Truro crown court to hear the sentence, but Jenkin, who at a previous hearing admitted grievous bodily harm with intent, refused to attend. Nash, 31, sat in the public gallery of Truro crown court to hear the sentence, but Jenkin, who at a previous hearing admitted grievous bodily harm with intent, refused to attend.
The 31-year-old mother of two was set upon by Jenkin at her home in Hayle, Cornwall, in April last year. After Jenkin's conviction she described how she felt "buried alive, claustrophobic and not in control of my life". She said that although she had been robbed of "one of the most precious things in life" she was glad that Jenkin had "at least taken responsibility" for changing her life for ever. The mother of two sons, then aged 13 and three, was set upon by Jenkin at her home in Hayle, Cornwall, in April last year.
After the sentencing, Nash issued a statement through Devon and Cornwall police. She said: "I have waited a year and three weeks for this day. It was a week short of a year before Shane decided to plead guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent although he and I know that he tried to kill me that night.
"This delay I believe to be deliberate as Shane hoped I would give in and back out as I had done previously and he was happy in the knowledge that he was still controlling my life by doing so.
"During this year my life has been in limbo as I have not been able to have the treatment and counselling I so desperately needed whilst Shane has had a team of experts, professionals and psychiatrists assessing and ensuring his wellbeing and that he received his treatment that he required.
"Shane was not mentally ill when he attacked me, he was not drunk or under the influence of drugs. It was a silent, prolonged attack. Shane knows what he did to me that night and he has to live with that for the rest of his life.
"My life has changed forever that night and will never be the same but I am now able to move on, start my treatment and rebuild my life. I have a future and want to provide a future for my kids and be a good mum.
"I have been overwhelmed and moved by all the kind messages, offers of help and generous gifts I have received and would like to say thank you to everyone.
"I urge anyone out there suffering domestic abuse to contact the police before it is too late. Don't be frightened or embarrassed, there are specially trained officers who can and will help you. If you really feel unable to contact the police there are charities and support groups such as West Cornwall Women's Aid who will help, advise and support you in doing so."
She said that although she had been robbed of "one of the most precious things in life", she was glad that Jenkin had "at least taken responsibility" for changing her life for ever.
"I actually look forward to going to sleep because in my dreams I have sight," she said. "It's when I wake up that the truth hits home. Some days I just don't want to get up but I'm determined to provide a future for my children and this is my motivation.""I actually look forward to going to sleep because in my dreams I have sight," she said. "It's when I wake up that the truth hits home. Some days I just don't want to get up but I'm determined to provide a future for my children and this is my motivation."
Speaking to the BBC before Jenkin's sentencing on Friday, Nash, whose sons were 13 and three at the time of the attack, said she was feeling more confident. "I'm definitely getting the old me back." Detective Inspector Chris Strickland described the attack as the most harrowing case he had been involved in. "Our view is that Jenkin deliberately strangled Tina into a state of unconsciousness in order that he could inflict these terrible injuries," he said. "Tina's life will never be the same and her lifelong disability will be a constant reminder of the attack."
Asked how much anger she felt towards Jenkin, she said: "To be honest with you, I feel nothing towards him, nothing, because that's a feeling, and I don't want to have any feelings for him."
She said she did not think she was being brave in the way she was dealing with her life. "Surviving; I'm surviving. You only get one life, so I'm not going to let him ruin it."
Nash has said that Jenkin, who held her prisoner for 12 hours after the attack, blamed her for it, telling her he was going to be in prison for years because of what he had done. She said she had not walked away from the relationship after previous attacks because she felt she could change him.
Detective Inspector Chris Strickland, of Devon and Cornwall police, described the attack as the most harrowing case he had been involved in. "Our view is that Jenkin deliberately strangled Tina into a state of unconsciousness in order that he could inflict these terrible injuries," he said.
"Tina's life will never be the same and her lifelong disability will be a constant reminder of the attack."
Strickland paid tribute to Nash's courage in trying to rebuild her life, saying: "Tina has displayed incredible strength, however, and has shown great desire to be able to care for her two children despite not being able to see them as they grow up."Strickland paid tribute to Nash's courage in trying to rebuild her life, saying: "Tina has displayed incredible strength, however, and has shown great desire to be able to care for her two children despite not being able to see them as they grow up."