Staffordshire shot tycoon was on bail

Feb 3 2009 by William Oliphant, Birmingham Mail

A MILLIONAIRE businessman was on bail for firearms charges when he is believed to have killed himself after shooting his partner, police said today.

Lord Howard Worthington, former owner of a steel company, was found dead in a field near his home in the Staffordshire village of Brewood at about 8pm on Thursday. He is thought to have injured his partner Julie Rees before turning the gun on himself.

Staffordshire Police confirmed Mr Worthington, 52, was arrested in December and charged with possessing a shotgun with intent to cause fear of violence and being drunk in possession of a loaded firearm. He was bailed by Stafford Crown Court following a preliminary hearing on January 19 and ordered not to contact Ms Rees, 47.

Officers were called to the house in Hyde Mill Lane where they found Ms Rees suffering from two gunshot wounds. She was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire where she is recovering from her injuries.

A firearm was recovered and detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Mr Worthington made his fortune when he sold Wolverhampton-based EWS Manufacturing in a multimillion-pound deal in the mid-1990s.