Controlling Boyfriend Jailed After Throwing Teen Girlfriend from Tower Block
Bobbie Goodman, a teenager who had always been afraid of heights, fell from a fourth-floor window of a tower block in Solihull and lost consciousness. She later woke up in a hospital bed, recalling her boyfriend Jordan Herring holding her at the window and threatening to kill her. The court heard that the couple began dating in February 2022 when Bobbie was 17 and Herring was 18, and the relationship quickly turned toxic.
A Rapidly Toxic Relationship
Herring was on licence after being released from detention and had previous convictions, including wounding with intent for a stabbing when he was just 16 years old. Within a month of the relationship starting, Herring became controlling and demanded that Bobbie spend every single day with him. By April 2022, she had moved into his grandmother's home in Solihull.
Her family noticed that she became withdrawn, and Herring deliberately isolated her from them. By the autumn of 2022, his jealousy escalated significantly. He began checking Bobbie's Snapchat account and "testing" her about past messages to other men. Prosecutors stated that his heavy cannabis use, smoking five or six spliffs daily, fuelled his paranoid behaviour.
The Night of the Attack
In early November, Herring assaulted Bobbie and locked her in a bedroom to hide the bruising. He then went on the run with her to avoid police being alerted, risking his recall to custody. They ended up at his mother Kerrie-Anne Grogan's flat in Merton House, Chelmsley Wood, with Bobbie's injuries concealed under hoodies.
On the night of November 12, Bobbie said the only thing she remembered was Herring putting her near the window and saying he would throw her out and kill her. CCTV footage captured her falling at approximately 11.22pm, plunging nearly 40 feet and landing on grass rather than the nearby concrete.
Delayed Emergency Response
Cameras showed Herring and Grogan taking Bobbie back into the flat, and emergency services were not called for around an hour and 20 minutes. In a recorded 999 call, Grogan claimed her son would not let her call and said he had a knife, though she later disputed that statement in court.
Bobbie suffered life-threatening injuries, including collapsed lungs, broken ribs, a fractured pelvis and spine, plus internal damage. She spent a month in intensive care and later required the use of a wheelchair during her recovery.
Court Verdict and Sentencing
Herring, now 22 years old, was convicted of unlawful wounding and coercive and controlling behaviour. He was cleared of attempted murder and GBH with intent. The court deemed him dangerous and sentenced him to five years in prison with an extended licence period.
This case highlights the severe consequences of domestic abuse and controlling relationships, particularly involving young victims. The delayed emergency response and the gravity of Bobbie's injuries underscore the urgent need for awareness and intervention in such situations.
