Speedboat Killer Jack Shepherd Jailed for Violent Assault on Ex-Partner

Jack Shepherd, 36, has been handed an additional prison sentence for a violent assault on his former partner. He was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court after admitting to causing grievous bodily harm.

Shepherd was previously convicted of manslaughter in 2018 following the death of Charlotte Brown, 24, who was killed when his speedboat capsized during a date on the River Thames in December 2015. He was sentenced to six years for that offence, serving time after being extradited from Georgia, where he had fled while on bail.

The new charge relates to an incident in March 2023, just months after his release from prison for the speedboat manslaughter. Shepherd attacked his ex-partner, Katie Barnes, during a visit to her flat in Paddington, west London. The court heard that he became enraged after consuming a significant amount of alcohol, repeatedly punching Barnes and dragging her by her hair. Barnes sustained multiple injuries, including a fractured eye socket, nose, and ribs, and has since required reconstructive surgery and ongoing therapy.

Shepherd's defence argued that he was seeking to address his alcohol issues, but the judge emphasised the severity of the sustained attack. His current sentence for the assault will be served consecutively, meaning it will be added to any unserved portion of his previous manslaughter conviction.