A man from Solihull has been convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm after his teenage girlfriend fell from the fourth floor of a tower block in Chelmsley Wood, following a dramatic court retrial that concluded this month.
Verdict Reached in High-Profile Case
Jordan Herring, now aged 22, was found guilty of the lesser charge of grievous bodily harm, while being cleared of the more serious allegations of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The verdict was delivered by a second jury after a previous panel remained hung on the attempted murder charge, though they had convicted Herring of coercive and controlling behaviour against the same victim.
Details of the Incident Emerge
The incident occurred at 11.22pm on November 12, 2022, at Merton House in Chelmsley Wood, Solihull. The victim, who was 18 years old at the time, fell from a height of nearly 40 feet, landing on a grass verge below. She sustained life-threatening injuries, including a collapsed lung, a ruptured spleen, and multiple broken bones, requiring an airlift to hospital. Remarkably, she was discharged approximately a week later.
During the trial, the court heard that the relationship between Herring and the young woman, which began in February 2022, was described as toxic. The victim reported instances of assault, being locked in a bedroom, and having her phone searched by Herring. In the days leading up to the fall, she had sustained bruises and black eyes.
Conflicting Accounts in Court
The prosecution alleged that Herring deliberately threw his girlfriend from the window, with the victim claiming he held her by the opening and threatened, I will throw you out, I will kill you. However, Herring denied these accusations, testifying that she climbed out of the window herself and fell during an argument about stupid things, including cheating allegations.
Following the fall, Herring and his mother, Kerrie-Anne Grogan, wrapped the injured girl in a blanket and carried her back upstairs to the flat. Emergency services were not called for over an hour. Initially, Ms Grogan told a call handler that her son had prevented her from seeking help sooner and that he had a knife, but she later retracted these statements during her evidence, citing mental health issues and intoxication at the time.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Herring, who had already been remanded into custody, is due to be sentenced on April 13. The case has highlighted issues of domestic violence and coercive control, with the previous conviction for controlling behaviour underscoring the abusive nature of the relationship. The retrial provided a resolution to the serious charges, though the outcome has sparked discussions about justice and victim safety in such complex cases.
