Tina Nash

I am a survivor of one of the worst cases of domestic violence in Britain; my name is Tina Nash.

In 2011 the man I was dating - Shane Jenkin - repeatedly strangled me to unconsciousness, broke my jaw and my nose and used his thumbs to gouge out my eyes, blinding me forever.

He held me hostage for 12 hours, whilst my children slept in the room next door.

When my eye was hanging down my cheek, he refused to get me help, blaming me for his violence.

Losing my sight at the hands of this monster was like being buried alive.

This attack was not the first. During our relationship the police were called nine times due to him attacking me so badly I ended up in hospital and which included times when he had put his thumbs in my eyes and stamped on my head.

I asked the police at the time whether he had a history of violence, and they refused to tell me.

The truth was that Jenkin DID have a history of extreme violence, which the police knew all about.

He had previously attacked other women and men and his violence had been escalating. But nothing was done. If the police had told me at that time, my life could have turned out very differently.

Jenkin pled guilty to GBH with intent and received a life sentence with a minimum of just six years.

He spent time in a secure mental health unit and made many unsuccessful attempts at parole.

I joined the probation service’s Victim Contact Scheme which was supposed to provide me with information and support throughout his sentence and opportunity to take part in Jenkin’s parole hearings as the victim of his crimes.

I should have felt safe at this point, knowing he was behind bars, and getting support from the authorities that are meant to protect us.

In 2022 he applied for parole. I wasn’t told he had a hearing & found out from a journalist.

Every professional deemed him too dangerous to release. It was highlighted that he wanted revenge, held “unhelpful beliefs about women” & jealousy. He blamed me for his violence & showed no remorse or empathy.

He was given a blueprint of what he needed to say & do in order to be released.

In 2024 Jenkin again applied for parole. This time, however, his case was heard by the parole board panel and, just 12 years after his sentence began, unbelievably, he was granted parole and transferred from his maximum security prison category A to a category B prison.

He has since been transferred to a Category D, an open prison, and is being prepared for release.

As the victim and as part of the Victim Contact Scheme I should have been told how to challenge this decision and be given an opportunity to contribute to the hearing to tell the decision makers how this monster has affected mine and my family’s lives forever. But I was not.

I've been failed and let down repeatedly, in the worst ways, by the public services who are supposed to be supporting and protecting me.

My probation liaison officer even asked me recently “don’t you feel bad for him having this hanging over his head?” after I spoke out about the attack and the Parole Board hearing outcome.

I cannot believe he is a changed man who poses little risk to the public. As far as I know he has not been assessed for psychopathy - I believe he is a psychopath.

That night 13 years ago he subjected me to a premeditated, prolonged sadistic attack which resulted in life changing injuries.

I believe something has gone very wrong with the criminal justice system if it can release a person capable of such violence after such a short period of imprisonment.

I’ve been badly let down by the authorities, first by the police then by the probation service and so now I am in a situation where I am in fear once again both for my own life and for any other women who may be unfortunate enough to come into contact with Shane Jenkin.

I have been left with no compensation and no support from carers, because of unfair terms, when promises were made to me 13 years ago I would get the help I needed.

I need your help to fight this injustice with everything I have because I want to try and make sure he is never allowed the opportunity to hurt another person the way he hurt me.

I am raising awareness and getting legal advice and will continue to speak up and out for myself and other victims of domestic violence.

The authorities should be taking domestic abuse more seriously, they should be looking at the patterns of repeat violent offending behaviour and dealing with the perpetrators early so more victims are saved.

Please help me by donating if you can, no matter how small an amount, so I am able to get the help and support I need to be able to continue this fight for all survivors and victims of domestic violence.

Your money will go towards keeping me safe, my legal case and buying things I desperately need.

If Jenkin is released my property must be urgently target hardened, I need cameras and a security consultant to help me. I cannot depend on the authorities to help.

Also I need glasses that can read text which would improve my quality of life tremendously.

Victims of domestic abuse deserve so much better.

Thank you for reading this and helping me.

Love Tina.