Mother blinded by ex-partner fears for life after he is moved to an open prison
A mother-of-two who had her eyes gouged out by her former partner has said she fears for her life after learning he has been transferred to an open prison.
Tina Nash, 44, from Cornwall, was blinded by Shane Jenkin in April 2011 during a violent attack in which he held her hostage for 12 hours, strangled her, broke her nose and jaw and gouged out her eyes – while her two sons slept in the room next door.
Jenkin, 45, of Sea Lane, Hayle, in Cornwall, admitted grievous bodily harm (GBH) and was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of six years in 2012.
Despite having six bids for parole rejected, according to the Parole Board for England and Wales, he was moved to an open prison at the beginning of March this year.
In an open prison Jenkin is eligible to leave for short periods of time under licence to take part in paid or unpaid work or to see a family member who is seriously ill.
Ms Nash told the PA news agency she fears for her safety and the safety of other women after learning of his relocation.
'I'm really scared, because I don't think he'll leave it, especially because I've spoken out about what he's done,' Ms Nash said.
'I think that he has been sitting there this whole entire time kicking himself that he did not finish me off.'
Laura Richards, a criminal behavioural analyst and former head of the Homicide Prevention Unit of the Metropolitan Police, said she is 'appalled' by the decision to move Jenkin to an open prison.
'I'm extremely concerned about the decision to move Jenkin to an open prison, readying him for release after such a short time and given his appalling and sadistic violent acts to Tina,' Ms Richards told PA.
'There is too much weight and focus on Jenkin's 'right to freedom' rather than where it should be, on Tina's right to life and safety and the safety of the public.'
Ms Richards, who interviewed Ms Nash for her Crime Analyst podcast, said she believes that the risk assessment is 'flawed' and Jenkin should be assessed for psychopathy.
Ms Nash, who met Jenkin at a club in Penzance in August 2009, said the first eight months of their relationship was loving until he 'turned on her'.
'The first time that he actually properly turned on me and actually beat me up was in April 2010,' she said.
'Then in that last year it was just nothing but beatings, strangulations, it was just constant the police raiding my house.
'I've never felt like on edge before in all my life.
'I didn't even know I was a victim.'
Describing the night of Jenkin's attack, Ms Nash explained he had rolled her up in a blanket, while he continued to strangle and beat her.
'I didn't know what was going on – I didn't know I was blind,' she said.
'I was touching the left side of my cheek, and I felt my eyeball down on my cheek, I couldn't believe it.
'I don't remember him jumping on me. I don't remember him beating me. I don't remember him gouging my eyes out. I don't remember him rolling me up. He thought I was dead.'
Ms Nash had several operations following the attack but surgeons were unable to save her eyes.
She has since had reconstructive surgery to implant prosthetic eyes.
Jenkin, who is 6ft 4in, was sentenced at Truro Crown Court in May 2012 and detained in a secure mental health unit.
Ms Nash said the attack by Jenkin has 'completely ruined' her life.
'I try every single day to stay positive, but no matter what, it's still always there, and it's not going away,' she said.
'I dream every single night and it feels like I've just lost my sight yesterday.'
Ms Nash said before meeting Jenkin she was a 'free spirit' who 'loved life', but 13 years later she still suffers panic attacks and is on medication for anxiety.
'I was a free spirit, I loved life, I was a DJ – I loved being out with my friends,' she said.
'All the panic attacks and the anxiety attacks just ruined me as a person.
'The amount of days and years that I sat downstairs on my own on the edge of the sofa, tortured, shaking, freaking out – he'll never know what he's done to me.'
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'This was a horrific crime and our thoughts remain with Ms Nash.
'All prisoners, including those serving life sentences, must pass a robust risk assessment before any move to open conditions and we do not hesitate to move them back to closed prisons if they break the rules.'
Ms Nash has set up a fundraiser on GoFundMe to raise money for security improvements at her home if Jenkin is released, which can be found at: gofundme.com/f/t8u7ev-tina-nash
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