A man has been sentenced to five years in jail for throwing his girlfriend out of a fourth-floor tower block window in a jealous outburst, falsely claiming to the police that she had jumped. Jordan Herring, 22, hurled 18-year-old Bobbie Goodman from the window of his mother’s high-rise flat in Chelmsley Wood, Solihull, West Midlands. The incident, which occurred at 11:22 pm on November 12, 2022, was captured on shocking CCTV footage showing Bobbie plummeting nearly 40 feet (12.2 meters) to the ground from Merton House.
Despite sustaining severe injuries including a collapsed lung, shattered pelvis, broken ribs, and a fractured spine, Bobbie miraculously survived the fall. The court heard that Herring, under the influence of cannabis, flew into a rage after questioning Bobbie about messages on her phone from other men. Prior to the tragic event, he had already assaulted Bobbie twice and interrogated her about the messages.
Prosecutor Jamie Scott stated that the offense was triggered by Herring’s drug use and extreme jealousy. Herring had taken Bobbie to his mother’s residence to hide her from her concerned family, who had been searching for her. Upon arrival, Bobbie was visibly injured, with Herring making her conceal her appearance by wearing layers of clothing.
Bobbie recounted being threatened by Herring near the window, with him warning that he would kill her. However, she had no memory of the events that followed. CCTV footage showed Herring calmly descending the stairs after the incident, with his mother following, picking up Bobbie from where she fell, and carrying her back inside. Emergency services were not contacted until over an hour later, and Bobbie was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition.
Herring claimed that Bobbie had voluntarily climbed out of the window during an argument about infidelity. Despite being acquitted of attempted murder, Herring was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm and coercive behavior towards Bobbie in previous incidents.
During sentencing, Judge Simon Drew KC labeled Herring a dangerous individual and extended his license period. He highlighted Herring’s controlling behavior and the physical and emotional abuse inflicted upon Bobbie, leading to the tragic event. In a victim impact statement, Bobbie expressed gratitude for surviving but detailed the lasting physical and emotional trauma she continues to endure.
In his defense, Nicholas Berry cited Herring’s troubled upbringing marked by parental trauma, substance abuse, and emotional struggles as contributing factors to his actions.