‘He robbed me of my precious sight’

A MOTHER-OF-TWO whose boyfriend throttled her unconscious and gouged out her eyes has said that he had robbed her of “one of the most precious things in life”.

Shane Jenkin launched the “premeditated, sustained and vicious attack” on his 31-year-old partner last April and also broke her jaw and nose, in her home in Hayle, Cornwall.

The powerfully-built 33-year-old admitted GBH with intent at Truro Crown Court yesterday, and will be sentenced next month

Efforts to save the sight in one of Tina Nash’s eyes failed and she was left completely blind.

Last night it was disclosed that Jenkin was banned from Penzance pubs for five years after attacking a policeman in early 2010.

As details emerged of his explosive, unpredictable temper, Ms Nash issued a statement saying 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.”

Jenkin, of Hayle, Cornwall, was banned several times from pubs in Penzance for violence, but hit with a five-year ban in March 2010 for attacking a policeman, said Helen Cadman, local Pubwatch chairman.

One barman who asked to remain anonymous said: “What he did to Tina he tried to do to other people – I know someone else he had a fight with and tried to do that to him but he was 6ft 4in and could defend himself.

“He could just turn and go from being nice and polite and jovial then bang, it was like flicking a switch.

“I saw it on several occasions.

“I have seen him talking to people, having a laugh to stamping on them on the floor.”

Jenkin was originally charged with attempted murder.

Ms Nash, who bravely faced him in court at a previous hearing, said she was 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.

“Tina’s life will never be the same.

“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.”