Robert Jobson was banned from contacting estranged wife Rose after his arrest on suspicion of domestic violence
A former medal-winning Team England clay pigeon shooter was unlawfully killed by her estranged husband who then shot himself in a tragedy that rocked a northern Lincolnshire village. An inquest has heard that Robert Jobson, 84, killed his wife Rose Jobson, 69, who he was banned from contacting after being arrested on suspicion of domestic violence.
They had been married for 30 years and jointly ran White Lodge Shooting School at Thornton Curtis, near Barton. Emergency services were called to the remote address on College Roadafter a neighbour saw Rose on the ground on the driveway of the property at around 3.30pm on July 14, 2023, the inquest at Cleethorpes Town Hall heard today (Thursday, January 8, 2026).
An air ambulance and paramedics and police attended but both Rose, who had been shot twice and her estranged husband were pronounced dead. Robert, who had also been a former shot for Team England in national competitions, had a single shotgun injury to his neck.
Area coroner for Lincolnshire, Jayne Wilkes concluded he died from suicide after unlawfully killing his wife as she exited her car at the matrimonial home. Robert had been barred from attending at the address following his arrest the week before on suspicion of domestic violence towards Rose.
Humberside Police confirmed at the inquest there were two bail conditions for his release from custody on July 8 2023. They were that he must not contact Rose directly or indirectly and must not attend the property.
Following a report from Rose about her fears and vulnerability, Humberside Police had arranged for the six shotguns kept securely at White Lodge to be removed the month prior to the fatal shootings. Robert had obtained a double barrelled shotgun from a friend in Grimsby, just hours before he waited for Rose to return to the home.
He told the friend he needed a shotgun to shoot crows at his property. The friend was unaware of the domestic problems Robert and Rose were going through and the seizure by police of all the shotguns, when he handed over the weapon.
Robert had also bought a black car the day prior to the tragedy and drove it to the property, but parked it in the neighbour’s driveway. He waited for Rose to arrive, the inquest heard. A post mortem examination revealed she had been shot first from some metres distance and then again at close range.
In her conclusion, the area coroner said: “He (Robert) has no access to firearms. He told his friend ‘Everything is fine. I just need to shoot some crows’. It was a small firearm. In fairness, he (the friend) had lent him it before. He was not aware of the separation. It was a request from a friend. That was on the morning before.”
Ms Wilkes said there was no evidence of whether there had been any discussion between Robert and Rose before she was shot twice. “There is evidence of premeditation. Did he know she was coming back that day?
“The fact the black car was parked at the neighbour’s, did that give Rose an assurance she was safe to enter the property? He had obtained the gun just a few hours earlier to carry out the act,” said Ms Wilkes.
She added: “Her relationship with her husband was over and divorce proceedings had commenced. She was shot twice by her husband as she exited her car. It was a deliberate and intentional act of her husband. This was an unlawful killing.” She concluded Robert Jobson had committed suicide by shooting himself.
Earlier, Ms Wilkes told the hearing: “Unlawful killing is not murder because this is not a criminal court. But on the balance of probabilities I would be satisfied that Rose was murdered.”
Pc Michael Deighton, of Humberside Police, said in a statement he was alerted to the scene after a 999 call from the neighbour. A friend of Rose told how he was due to visit her at White Lodge for tea.
He said she had returned to the home to pick up some of her clothes to take back to his home, where she was staying temporarily after leaving White Lodge. In tribute, Rose’s daughter from a previous marriage, Paula O’Donnell, who lives in New Zealand, said she was aware of the breakdown in the marriage. “She was a good mum,” she said.
Rose also had a son from the previous marriage. Paula said Rose first met Robert while riding on a hunt and Robert had helped her when she fell off her horse. Robert owned Killingholme Animal Feeds and Rose went to work with him.
The daughter said: “Robert was old-fashioned and demanding and always strict.” She said they bought White Lodge to turn into a shooting school and transformed the 12-acre site into a “spectacular” one.
Rose provided the food for corporate shooting events. She also taught shooting and archery.
The daughter said the age gap between Rose and Robert became more apparent as he got older. She said she saw her mother’s confidence decline.
She highlighted her mother’s concerns about verbal abuse from her husband. He had refused to sign divorce papers, she said.
The daughter .said: “She did not deserve to be taken away from me like that. I miss her so much. She was warm-hearted, hard-working and bright and had a love of life and dancing. She was the most thoughtful person I know.”
Details of the turbulent breakdown in the marriage were revealed at the inquest. Humberside Police Detective Inspector, Sam Chester said Robert Jobson was arrested on July 8 2023 the day after the allegation of domestic violence and threats were made.
She said he was given conditional bail not to attend the property or contact Rose. The detective said he had no previous convictions and was granted bail.
His age and an injury to his neck suffered in a garden accident in May that year, meant he was not considered to be kept in custody, while the investigation was undertaken and the Crown Prosecution Service assessed if charges should be laid. The inspector said even if he had been charged, he would still have been released on conditional bail for a subsequent court appearance.
The officer said a black car had been bought by Robert Jobson the day before the shooting and was parked on the neighbour’s driveway. “If Rose had seen an unknown vehicle at home she would have thought it was something to do with Robert,” she said.
She added: “All domestic abuse cases are investigated extremely seriously. There was nothing more that Humberside Police could have done to protect Rose, unfortunately.”
At the conclusion, Ms Wilkes said Humberside Police had carried out extensive work to take all firearms away from White Lodge in June, the month before the killing. She issued her heartfelt sympathies to all the relatives at the inquest and those who listened online.