A man has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of seriously injuring his 18-year-old girlfriend in an incident at a residential building in Chelmsley Wood, West Midlands. The case has renewed attention on domestic abuse and the importance of listening to survivors who speak out about their experiences.
Jordan Herring, 22, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on April 13, 2026, after being found guilty of wounding. The incident occurred on November 12, 2022, at Merton House, where the young woman fell from a fourth-floor window.
She sustained severe, life-changing injuries, including a collapsed lung, a fractured pelvis and broken ribs. Reports presented in the case also indicated that emergency services were not contacted for approximately an hour after the incident.

Herring claimed that his girlfriend had jumped from the window herself. However, investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the incident, and the woman’s account became an important part of the case against him. The court was also told that Herring had previously been convicted of coercive and controlling behaviour toward the same victim.

The legal proceedings took several years, but the eventual conviction marked a significant development for the young woman, who had to endure both the physical consequences of her injuries and the demands of the court process.

Police praised the victim’s courage in coming forward and providing evidence. Speaking out in cases involving domestic abuse can be extremely difficult, particularly when the accused is someone with whom the victim had a close relationship.

The case also highlights that controlling behaviour can be a serious warning sign in an abusive relationship. Support services encourage anyone experiencing abuse, or worried about someone they know, to seek help from trusted people or specialist organisations.

Although the sentence brings this stage of the case to a close, the impact of the incident on the victim may continue long after the court proceedings have ended.

Source: BBC News