Dartford siege ‘gunman’ faced abuse charges before ‘taking ex hostage and shooting her dead’ as he dies in hospital
A SUSPECTED gunman who died in hospital after allegedly shooting his ex-partner dead during a hostage standoff was facing a string of abuse charges.
Jacob Cloke, 29, was declared dead on May 11 due to a gunshot wound after he is suspected to have killed Hayley Burke, 36, in Dartford, Kent, the previous week.
Armed police and a trained negotiator confronted the gunman in a siege on May 6 but could not save Hayley, who died of her wounds two days later.
A man was rushed to hospital from the scene with a life-threatening gunshot wound and was made a murder suspect.
Cops confirmed yesterday that Cloke had died in hospital the previous night.
It has now emerged that he was facing several charges relating to the alleged abuse of Hayley, who is understood to have been his ex-partner.
He was reportedly addicted to cocaine and had tried to strangle her and threatened to kill her during a row.
Cloke is also alleged to have shaken Hayley so hard that she suffered a bleed on the brain, though he had denied this and said she must have fallen.
He previously served spells in jail for a range of crimes, including driving offences, robbery and criminal damage.
He was jailed for two years in 2021 after pleading guilty to an assault on another woman.
The court heard that he had attacked the woman in October 2020 while she was holding their two-month-old child in her arms.
His victim even reportedly told a friend: “If you don’t hear from me by 9pm, please come to the house to make sure I am alive.”
Yesterday, a spokesperson for Kent Police revealed that Cloke was the man suspected of Hayley’s murder.
They said: “A suspect linked to a fatal firearms incident in Dartford has died in hospital.
“Jacob Cloke, who was 29, was declared deceased on the evening of Thursday May 11, 2023. He had sustained critical injuries caused by a firearm, following a disturbance at a property in Priory Road on Saturday, May 6.
“Hayley Burke, aged 36, was also critically injured and she previously died at hospital on Monday 8 May.
“An investigation into both deaths will now be led by the coroner. Officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate will assist the coronial process.”
Another man, Terry Beaton, has been charged with possession of a firearm, namely a Smith and Wesson revolver, in connection with the horror.
He was also charged with possessing cannabis with intent to supply and driving while disqualified and without insurance.
He remains in custody and is due to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on June 8.