Paul Jenner death: what happened to abuse victim from 24 Hours in Police Custody - and where is Sherry Naidoo?

The finale to the Channel 4 show originally aired on Monday (12 April), but will be broadcast again tonight (14 April).

The episode proved incredibly difficult to watch as it showed Jenner taken to intensive care after an attack at his and Naidoo’s Bedfordshire home.

But what happened to Paul Jenner and Sherry Naidoo in the show, and after? Here’s what you need to know.

**Article contains spoilers**

What happened in the finale of 24 Hours in Police Custody?

The final episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody saw the police called to the scene of an attack on a man left badly injured at a home in Bedfordshire.

The victim was transferred to hospital, where he received urgent specialist treatment for brain trauma, which the doctors said was so severe he may not survive.

At Luton police HQ, where the show is located, investigating officer Alicia Lawrence revealed that she had seen the injured man before, recognising him as 42-year-old Paul Jenner.

Jenner was treated at a local hospital six months earlier after being assaulted by his girlfriend. Lawrence handled the original case, where she attempted to persuade Jenner to admit what had happened, but he refused.

The finale focused on Lawrence once again attempting to persuade Jenner to incriminate his partner, however this task turned into a race against time after Lawrence received the news that Jenner’s condition had worsened.

What happened to Paul Jenner?

Paul Jenner was assaulted by his girlfriend Sherry Naidoo, which led to his eventual death 12 days later.

The attack happened just five days after Naidoo was released from jail following a six month sentence for another assault on Jenner that needed medical attention.

During the court case into Jenner’s death, the jury heard that police were called six times to their shared residence after reports of domestic violence.

Jenner told the dispatcher in the call: "I’ve been violently attacked again by my partner. I’m in intensive care. She’s been in prison for six months and she’s come out and done it to me again.

"I’ve just got to get out the relationship now haven’t I?"

The call handler poignantly replied: "Yes, I would say so. People who love you don’t hurt you like that."

After hearing the call, Lawrence told the cameras: "That is massive for him. He’s never given this before. He’s named her."

After Jenner’s condition stabilised, police visited him in hospital to get a statement. However, he insisted that he’d hit his head while drunk and was worried about his girlfriend being in police custody, adding that Naidoo hadn’t assaulted him “in any way, shape or form”.

Lawrence, after hearing this, said “This genuinely concerns me because he obviously wants to engage but he’s scared, but he’s given us just enough with the 999 call. We’ll go on without him."

It was revealed later in the show that Jenner had suffered a heart attack and had fallen into a coma while in hospital. Lawrence revealed that he was only alive by ventilator, with no part of his brain reacting to anything.

After an inquest into the death of Paul Jenner, a pathologist found the cause of death to be complications from an acute bleed and traumatic head injuries. Jenner was also suffering from chronic alcoholic disease.

What happened to Sherry Naidoo?

After Paul Jenner contacted 999, Sherry Naidoo was arrested and brought to Luton Police Station where she was held in custody.

On arrival she was heard telling a friend: “I’ll sort it out, I haven’t done nothing. I’ll be out tonight, I ain’t done nothing wrong.”

Naidoo was also heard asking police officers: “He’s pissed me off, why do it again to me?”

After Jenner refused to acknowledge that Naidoo was involved in his injuries, she was interrogated by Lawrence and another officer. Naidoo declined to answer any of their questions.

In response to Lawrence playing Jenner’s 999 call, Naidoo said: “It’s bulls**t coming out of his mouth. I didn’t do nothing to him.”

Naidoo’s actions then caused further controversy with viewers. While she was being arrested for grievous bodily harm, she smiled when she was told her rights.

“He really loved her and he protected her until he died,” Lawrence explained. “He would have always defended her. He was completely used to that way of life and it’s all he knew anymore and that’s the tragedy.

"This is going to be a job that stays with me for life. I hope she goes down for a very long time. Knowing what we know now. I don’t think GBH with intent is enough and I think it should go up again to murder."

The prosecutor in the case said in court: “It’s the prosecution’s case that she caused Mr Jenner’s injuries by assaulting him, causing him to fall and hit his head on a hard surface.”

What was Sherry Naidoo charged with?

Naidoo was eventually charged with actual bodily harm, and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.

After an inquest in Ampthill in February 2021, coroner Sean Cummings recorded a conclusion of unlawful killing.

He said: "After hearing the evidence I consider that it is likely beyond the balance of probability that Sherry Naidoo did subject Paul Jenner to a violent assault and that assault put in train a sequence of events that led to his death."

The inquest was told that during the criminal trial, a neuropathologist agreed with the defence that the bleeding on Mr Jenner's brain could have occurred over a period of time when Naidoo was in custody for the previous offence.