Shane Jenkin, 48, who was jailed for life for gouging out his ex-partner's eyes during a 12-hour hostage ordeal, has argued that a Parole Board decision to deny his release was "irrational".
Jenkin was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of six years in 2012 after admitting grievous bodily harm. He throttled Tina Nash, broke her nose and jaw, and gouged out her eyes while her two children slept next door.
Parole Board Decision
In July, the Parole Board denied his release after experts said he still "struggles to fully accept" the victim's account of what happened. Peter Jones, dismissing the application, said Jenkin "continues to struggle to fully accept the victim's account" and revealed he was still "on anti-psychotic medication".
Jenkin launched the attack on Tina on April 21, 2011, after watching a DVD featuring eye gouging a day earlier, Truro Crown Court heard. He covered Tina's head and draped his 17-and-a-half stone body on top of her, strangling her until she lost consciousness. The attack left her completely blind and permanently disfigured a month before she turned 30. Her sons were aged 13 and three at the time.
Jenkin's Challenge
Jenkin was initially detained under the Mental Health Act but was transferred to the prison estate in 2013. He was moved to an open prison in February 2025. He now claims the decision to block his release was "irrational" because there was "unanimous professional support for release and no further testing on [licence] was recommended".
However, the Parole Board's Mr Jones said: "The Panel was of the clear view that a further period of vigorous testing in the community, of the sort which the Panel outlined, was essential before he could be safely released."
Victim's Response
Speaking last year as Jenkin was moved to an open prison, Tina, from Cornwall, said: "They have let a man that committed the most horrific attack on me roam the streets. This man will not be safe in public."
She added: "I not only fear for my life but I also fear for the safety of other women that may encounter Jenkin. I have been informed that the first thing Jenkin will do is to come for me. I feel very scared for my safety - I'm living a nightmare."
Tina previously told the Mirror: "I know he regrets not finishing me off... So I know next time he hurts someone he is going to finish them off. He should be in maximum security for the rest of his days, not allowed to live in peace and freedom at some soft jail. It's disgusting."
