A gunman who shot his girlfriend died from a gun wound to the head days later, an inquest has heard.

Jacob Cloke, 29, died at Kings College Hospital on Thursday, May 11, after a stand off with police at his partner Hayle Burke’s home in Dartford on Friday, May 6.

Scaffolder Cloke, who has a long history of abusive behaviour, fatally wounded his girlfriend before shooting himself.

An inquest opening into his death at Maidstone’s County Hall revealed his cause of death was given as gunshot wound to the head.

It is the same cause of death his partner Hayley, who died two days after the shooting.

The former Maidstone and Sittingbourne man’s inquest lacked information around the circumstances due to an ongoing police investigation.

It was adjourned to be heard in full, at the same venue, on July 22 at 2pm.

The police watchdog is investigating the incident after court records revealed a man suspected of taking his ex-partner hostage and shooting her was a known domestic abuse suspect out on bail.

KentOnline previously revealed how Cloke was facing a number of charges relating to abusing Ms Burke, having previously been sent to prison for attacking another woman.

Details reveal she felt intimidated after the cocaine addict tried to strangle her over a row about a mobile phone.

In February last year he threatened to kill Ms Burke, grabbing her by the throat and causing her to pass out.

The former pub manager awoke to find him shaking her – he denied attacking her, saying she must have fallen.

Feeling unwell days later, the mum-of-two went to Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford, where a bleed to the brain was discovered.

The couple started going out in December 2020 and were at one time engaged but the relationship soured after he changed after time in prison.

On Tuesday April 18, the scaffolder turned up at her home and later that night entered the bedroom – slamming the door and refusing to let her out.

He became aggressive and wanted to snatch her puppy – threatening to break its paws – and spat in her face.

Cloke, who previously lived in Hayle Road, Maidstone, and Shortlands Road, Sittingbourne, denied doing anything to her and left the house.

The following morning he returned and scared and feeling vulnerable, Ms Burke called the police and Cloke was later arrested.

Jacob Cloke’s criminal career started at 14 when he landed before Medway Juvenile Court.

The recent charges he faced were:

Assaulting by beating Hayley Burke in Sheerness on February 24, 2023; Assaulting by beating Hayley Burke in Dartford on April 18, 2023; Theft of a pair of trainers in Dartford on April 24, 2023; Assaulting Hayley Burke causing actual bodily harm in Dartford on February 28, 2022.