Shropshire shooting: Farmer jailed for life after murdering estranged wife in ‘jealous’ rage

A man has been jailed for life for murdering his estranged wife in a shooting after he became “consumed with anger and jealousy”.

Farmer Andrew Hooper, 46, showed no emotion as he was convicted of murdering Cheryl Hooper, 51, as she sat in her Range Rover outside her home.

He was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court after a unanimous verdict and ordered to serve a minimum of 31 years.

Hooper suffered severe facial injuries and lost the ability to speak after turning his shotgun on himself after the attack in Newport, Shropshire, in January last year.

Prosecutors had told the court that Hooper, known as Jack, had “murder in his eyes” when he deliberately shot his wife.

The Crown said he deliberately shot her in the neck from about 1.5 metres away after becoming “consumed with anger and jealousy” when she left him at the end of 2017.

Following the verdict, it emerged that Hooper was given a suspended sentence in 2004 after breaking into his first wife’s home and threatening to kill her.

Prosecutor David Mason QC told the court: “This defendant, after they had separated, broke into her house one night armed with a knife and surgical gloves, and threatened to kill her and her new partner.

“That’s the only conviction he has. He was prosecuted for aggravated burglary but in fact pleaded guilty to an affray and received a suspended sentence.”

Mrs Hooper’s daughter Georgia, who was 14 at the time and witnessed the shooting from inside the Range Rover, read a victim impact statement to the court.

“For her to just be gone, my whole life has gone,” she said.

The now 15-year-old added: “On January 26 2018 my life got turned upside down. I never imagined my life without my mum. Mum and I were inseparable, we were a team and we did everything together.

“Mum was funny, beautiful and my best friend, the thought of her not being with me to share my life makes me very sad.

“I relied on her for everything – she was my world and I was hers.”

After the statement, Judge Mark Wall QC told the teenager: “The way in which you have conducted yourself throughout this trial – which must have been extremely difficult for you – has been admirable and awe-inspiring.

“Your mother would, I have no doubt, have been immensely proud of the way you have dealt with a tragic and difficult process.”

Georgia told the jury that Hooper, who lived on a 400-acre farm near Newport, had “murder in his eyes” when he deliberately shot her mother.

The killer was allowed to type out his answers on a keypad during his evidence, maintaining that he had only pointed the loaded shotgun at the car to scare his wife into a reconciliation.

During his evidence, Hooper claimed: “I live every day knowing I am responsible for her death. It is not a good feeling. I am not guilty of murder though.”

(c) Sky News 2019: Shropshire shooting: Farmer jailed for life after murdering estranged wife in ‘jealous’ rage