Apparently with TN-C-S earthing it is important that the neutral is kept at earth potential by earthing it at many points along its length.
I think you misunderstood what neutral conductor is. You must not ground neutral conductor. If you short PE (protective earth) and N (neutral) then this should be treated as a violation of electrical code, in any distribution system.
I think what you meant is that there is a PEN conductor distributed (such earthing system is called TN-C, there is no N or PE conductor there) and PEN conductor is split into protective earth PE and neutral N. From this point it is called TN-S and whole earthing system is called TN-C-S, both PE and N conductors run separately.
It does happen some old installations have TN-C earthing systems distributed at homes. This is TN-C, not TN-C-S, and you cannot have fault to neutral there simply because there is no neutral.
So, "fault to neutral" as you describe can only happen when you actually have neutral. Now, in single phase distribution system (like TN-C-S in UK homes) damaging neutral is not a safety issue, you can chop it anywhere and nothing is going to happen. However, damaging neutral in two/three phase systems is called "lost neutral" or "floating neutral" and leads to some rather expensive and unpleasant fireworks but I would not call it a "shock risk".