Woman blinded by attacker worried over prison move

Tina Nash was blinded in April 2011 when she was attacked by her former partner

A woman who had her eyes gouged out by her former partner says she is "really scared" after he was transferred to an open prison.

Tina Nash, 44, from Cornwall, was blinded by Shane Jenkin in April 2011 when he held her hostage for 12 hours, strangled her, broke her nose and jaw and gouged out her eyes.

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.

He was moved to an open prison at the beginning of March. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said a "robust risk assessment" was carried out before any prisoners were moved to an open prison.

In an open prison Jenkin can 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.

Discussing Jenkin's relocation, Ms Nash said: "I'm really scared, because I don't think he'll leave it, especially because I've spoken out about what he's done.

"I think that he has been sitting there this whole entire time kicking himself that he did not finish me off."

Tina Nash, who has two children, said the attack had ruined her life

Ms Nash said the attack "completely ruined" her life.

She said: "I try every single day to stay positive, but no matter what, it's still always there, and it's not going away.

"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 suffered panic attacks and took 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."

Horrific crime

Laura Richards, a criminal behavioural analyst and former head of the Homicide Prevention Unit of the Metropolitan Police, said she was appalled by the decision to move Jenkin to an open prison.

She said: "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."

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson described Jenkin's crime as horrific and said their thoughts remained with Ms Nash.

But they added: "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."