Man's Inhumanity to (Wo)Man

'He's robbed me of one of the most precious things in life': Tears of mother blinded by boyfriend who GOUGED her eyes out

• Tina Nash was subjected to 'sickening' 12-hour assault while her two children were in home
• She was also left her with broken nose and jaw in an attack described as 'the most harrowing' police had seen
• She had suffered abuse at Shane Jenkin's hands before but had helped him get out of jail
• The 32-year-old said the worst thing was not being able to see her children

A mother whose eyes were gouged out by her partner said today he had 'robbed me of one of the most precious things in life'.

Shane Jenkin, 33, subjected 32-year-old mother-of-two Tina Nash to a sickening 12-hour attack at her home in Hayle, Cornwall, leaving the attractive blonde completely blind.

Surgeons removed one eye and could not save her sight in the other, after Ms Nash was suffocated and had her jaw and nose broken during the 'vicious' assault, Truro Crown Court heard.

Devastated: Tina Nash, pictured left speaking out today, and right before the attack, said she missed 'the things people take for granted' like seeing the sea and sky

She faced the cameras for the first time today since the vile attack, after attending a hearing last year hiding behind large, dark sunglasses.

In a statement released after Jenkin admitted GBH with intent in court this morning, Ms Nash said 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.'

Powerfully-built Jenkin, of Hayle, Cornwall, was originally charged with attempted murder but admitted GBH at the court today. He will be sentenced next month with two psychiatrists present.

Outside court, Inspector Chris Strickland of Devon and Cornwall Police, said it was the most 'harrowing' case he had been involved in.

Vile: Shane Jenkin, 33, assaulted his girlfriend in a 'premeditated and vicious attack'

Ms Nash, who had bravely faced Jenkin in court at a previous hearing, added that she had been left feeling 'buried alive, claustrophobic and not in control of my life' by the assault.

Her sons, who were aged 13 and three at the time, were in the house on the night of her violent ordeal.

Ms Nash said that what she misses the most is seeing their faces, adding that, were it not for them, she would 'rather not be here like this.'

Abusive Jenkin had been violent towards her before, but she had stood by him and even helped him to get out of jail.

She said she hoped he was not 'buzzing' at the thought that he was last person she ever saw and admitted to wondering if he was 'bragging' about it.

The scarred woman warned other victims of domestic violence to 'get out before it was too late', saying she had thought she could change her partner, but that he had only got worse.

'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.'

Sobbing as she spoke out in an interview with the BBC, Ms Nash said: 'I feel like a ghost. i can hear everyone around me, but I can't even see my own hand in front of my face.'

The 32-year-old confessed that her confidence had gone as she has no idea what she looks like following the loss of her eyes.

'This isn't me,' she added. 'I miss the world, I just miss everything.'

She said that Jenkin had shouted at her that the attack was her own fault as she lay bleeding on the floor of her home.

Despite losing her sight in both eyes, she will need further surgery to try and repair her damaged eye socket, after weeks spent in hospital at the time.

Ms Nash was discharged from hospital shortly before her 31st birthday last year and began re-learning how to DJ without her sight.

Relatives of Ms Nash said they were 'shocked' at what had happened to the 'friendly' and 'outgoing' young woman.

Suffering: Ms Nash is led into Truro Crown Court by a police officer last year, her damaged eyes covered by sunglasses