Eye gouge man given a life sentence

A man who gouged out the eyes of Cornish woman Tina Nash has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a judge at Truro Crown Court. Shane Jenkin, 33, was ordered to serve the sentence in a secure mental hospital.

The attack happened at Ms Nash's former home in Hayle in April last year. Described as ‘horrific and prolonged’ the ordeal lasted for 12 hours. Ms Nash suffered a catalogue of injuries including a broken jaw as Jenkin held her prisoner in her own home. Her two children were in the house at the time.

Surgeons were forced to remove her left eye and she has been left blind.

Jenkin pleaded guilty last month to grievous bodily harm after the prosecution agreed to reduce a more serious charge of attempted murder. Today a judge ruled he would serve a minimum of five years and told the court it will be many years before he can be considered for parole.