A mum-of-two who was fatally wounded by her partner was shot in the head, an inquest has heard.

Hayley Burke, of Priory Road, Dartford, died on May 8 at King’s College Hospital after being shot by Jacob Cloke.

Ms Burke, 36, was critically injured in the incident at her home on Saturday, May 6.

Cloke, 29, died days later after shooting himself following a stand-off with armed police which turned violent.

An inquest opening at County Hall in Maidstone heard how former pub manger Ms Burke’s injuries were “incompatible with life”.

Assistant coroner Alan Blundson said: “Police entered the Dartford home and found Hayley Burke critically wounded from a gun shot.”

Her cause of death was given as gun shot wound to the head.

Due to an ongoing police investigation not all information was passed to the coroner’s office.

The inquest was adjourned to be heard in full on October 25 at Oakwood House.

Following the tragic events, KentOnline revealed scaffolder 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.

Ms Burke 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.

This was one of many incidents of violence from Cloke.

Others included threatening to put a baby “in the ground”, punching his victim, and slapping her.