Jack Shepherd, the man convicted of killing Charlotte Brown in a speedboat crash on the River Thames, has admitted to violently attacking a new partner after his release from prison. The 38-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage at Isleworth Crown Court on July 28, 2026.
Details of the Assault
Shepherd, appearing via video link from HMP Swaleside in Kent, admitted pinning down the woman and punching her in February 2025, causing bruising to her arm and leg. In a separate incident in June 2025, he struck her in the chest with barbecue tongs during an argument over a burnt pizza, leaving a permanent scar. He also admitted damaging her keys that same month.
Prosecutors dropped two other allegations of controlling or coercive behaviour and intentional suffocation as part of the plea deal. Judge Martin Edmunds KC, the Recorder of Kensington and Chelsea, remanded Shepherd into custody until a sentencing hearing in September. The judge ordered a probation report on Shepherd's conduct during his time on licence in 2024 and early 2025.
Background of the Manslaughter Case
Shepherd was originally jailed for 10 years at the Old Bailey for the manslaughter of Charlotte Brown, 24, in December 2015. The pair had met on a dating website and shared a champagne-fuelled dinner at the Oblix restaurant in the Shard before embarking on a high-speed ride on Shepherd's speedboat. The boat, a 1980s model, was riddled with defects including faulty steering, a damaged windscreen, and no kill switch. It capsized after clipping a partially submerged tree trunk, throwing both into the icy water. Charlotte died from cold water immersion. Shepherd fled to Georgia on the eve of his trial but was later extradited and convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence in his absence.
Release and Recall
Shepherd was released on licence in January 2024 but was recalled to prison in September 2025 after allegations of violence emerged. According to a Parole Board report, his latest release date from the manslaughter sentence is January 2029. He also served a separate four-year sentence for a drink-fuelled attack on a barman in Devon in 2018.
Court Proceedings
During the hearing, Shepherd told the court his current release date is January 2029. The judge ordered a probation report to assess his progress while on licence. The case has drawn widespread attention due to Shepherd's history and the nature of the attacks.
