Solihull Man Sentenced for Pushing Girlfriend From Fourth-Floor Window
A violent offender from Solihull showed contempt in court as he received a five-year prison sentence for pushing his teenage girlfriend from a tower block window, causing devastating injuries. Jordan Herring, now 22, was found guilty of unlawful wounding and controlling and coercive behaviour against his then-partner Bobbie Goodman.
Horrific Incident at Merton House
The terrifying incident occurred in November 2022 at Merton House in Chelmsley Wood, Solihull. Herring, then aged 19 and high on cannabis, forced his 18-year-old girlfriend from a fourth-floor window during an argument about suspected infidelity. CCTV footage captured the moment Ms Goodman plunged approximately 40 feet to the ground below.
Miraculously, she landed on a grass verge rather than the nearby concrete path, but still suffered catastrophic injuries including two collapsed lungs, broken ribs, pelvis and spine, plus damage to her spleen and liver. The court heard she has been left with life-changing physical and psychological trauma from the fall.
Courtroom Displays of Contempt
During sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court, Herring displayed shocking behaviour that demonstrated his lack of remorse. He held up five fingers to acknowledge his new partner and grandmother in the public gallery, then threw his head back and laughed quietly as Judge Simon Drew criticised his conduct since the incident.
Judge Drew told Herring: "I'm satisfied, I regret to say, you do represent a risk. I'm not saying you will offend but as I am sure you understand I have a public duty." The judge noted Herring continued to deny pushing Ms Goodman and showed minimal insight into his controlling behaviour.
Pattern of Controlling Behaviour
The court heard disturbing details about Herring's treatment of Ms Goodman throughout their relationship, which began in February 2022. He had previously been convicted of controlling and coercive behaviour against her, having isolated her from family, locked her in bedrooms, rifled through her phone, and assaulted her in the months leading up to the tower block incident.
In a heartbreaking victim impact statement, Ms Goodman said: "Looking back on the relationship with Jordan I now realise I was constantly controlled and not allowed to do the things I should have been allowed to do as a young woman. I will never let that happen again."
Delayed Emergency Response
CCTV evidence revealed Herring took three minutes to casually walk down the stairs after pushing Ms Goodman from the window. He then scooped her up and took her back into the flat, where he threatened his mother with a knife to prevent her from calling emergency services.
Medical assistance was delayed by one hour and twenty minutes, during which time Herring falsely claimed to police that Ms Goodman had attempted suicide by jumping from the window. This deception was later exposed during the investigation.
Sentencing and Previous Offences
Herring received a total sentence of five years in custody with an extended one-year licence period. He was cleared of more serious charges of attempted murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, but convicted of unlawful wounding.
The court heard about Herring's troubled background, including a previous conviction for stabbing someone outside a pub when he was 16 years old. Defence counsel Nicholas Berry argued Herring's character had been "forged by his background" of exposure to drugs, alcohol and domestic abuse during childhood.
Judge Drew concluded that Herring had effectively used the tower block as a "highly dangerous weapon" and represented a significant risk to the public, necessitating an extended sentence for public protection.
