Blinded woman ‘glad’ after violent partner confesses to attack

Shane Jenkin, 33, launched his “premeditated, sustained and vicious attack” on 31-year-old mother-of-two Tina Nash last year, also breaking her jaw and nose.

Attempts to save the sight in one of her eyes failed and she was left completely blind.

In a statement released after Jenkin admitted GBH with intent at Truro Crown Court yesterday, Ms Nash said she was glad he had “at least taken responsibility for changing my life forever”.

She said: “I truly feel that, when he was strangling me, he was trying to murder me.

“He has taken everything from me and robbed me of one of the most precious things in life – my sight.

“I miss the things which people take for granted the most such as seeing the sky and the sea.”

Powerfully-built Jenkin, of Sea Lane, Hayle, Cornwall, was originally charged with attempted murder but court staff confirmed he had admitted GBH at the court yesterday. He will be sentenced next month.

Ms Nash, who bravely faced Jenkin in court at a previous hearing, added that she had been left feeling “buried alive, claustrophobic and not in control of my life” by the assault.

“I actually look forward to going to sleep because in my dreams I have sight. It’s when I wake up that the truth hits home,” she said.

“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.”

Her sons were aged 13 and three at the time of the attack.

Detective Inspector Chris Strickland, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said Jenkin carried out a “premeditated, sustained and vicious attack on a defenceless woman”.

“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. Her injuries were so shocking that friends who saw her soon after the incident found it difficult to stay in the room.

“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.

“We would publicly like to thank the members of the public from Penzance and Hayle who helped us locate Jenkin when he fled following the attack. Their help was invaluable to our inquiry.”

Speaking later, Ms Nash said she thought she could change Jenkin but warned other victims of domestic violence to get out “before it is too late – it’s not going to get better, it’s going to get worse”.

She said: “It makes me feel like I have been buried alive. That is how I can describe it. I can hear people around me but I can’t even see my own hand in front of my face.”