Don’t suffer in silence says blinded woman

Tina Nash, 31, spoke out as Shane Jenkin began a life sentence for the unprovoked assault in which he gouged out her eyes with his fingers.

The powerfully-built 33-year-old also throttled her until she became unconscious and broke her jaw and nose during the sadistic attack at her home in Hayle, Cornwall, in April last year.

Efforts to save her sight failed and she was left blind.

Ms Nash, who is the mother of two boys, spoke movingly of how her life had changed irreversibly but said others must not go through what she did.

“I urge anyone out there suffering domestic abuse to contact the police before it is too late,” she said in a statement read on her behalf outside Truro Crown Court.

“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.”

Ms Nash said she had waited a long time for Jenkin to face justice for what he did to her that night.

“I have waited a year and three weeks for this day,” she said.

“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 well-being and that he received the 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 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.”

Ms Nash also praised the huge public support she had received.

“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,” she said.

She also thanked Devon and Cornwall Police and the Crown Prosecution Service for their support.

Jenkin, of Sea Lane, Hayle, admitted a charge of grievous bodily harm with intent last month. He denied the more serious charge of attempted murder.

Prosecutor Andrew Macfarlane told the court that in the 12 months prior to the attack in which Ms Nash was blinded there had been nine reports of domestic violence committed against her by Jenkin.

The court heard that on one occasion the 17-and-a-half stone, 6ft 4in Jenkin punched her in the face three times while she slept before pushing his fingers into her eyes and then throwing her down the stairs.

In another terrifying incident, burly Jenkin put his arms around her neck so tightly that she passed out and he performed mouth to mouth resuscitation on her.

Mr Macfarlane said Jenkin was prosecuted but after threatening to burn down her home and promising he would change, Ms Nash refused to give evidence against him and the charges were dropped.

He said Ms Nash did not scream or cry for help because she had learned from previous experience that if she did, he would become more violent.