A former Shropshire businessman who was killed in a shooting tragedy at his home led a flamboyant millionaire lifestyle which saw him become “lord” of a tiny county hamlet.

Howard Worthington, who lived at Shray Hill, Telford, until 18 months ago, was found dead in a field near his £900,000 Brewood home, Staffordshire, on Thursday night.

His partner Julie Rees was found at the their home with gunshot wounds and remains in a stable condition in hospital today.

But the events surrounding the shooting are a far cry from the image the 52-year-old self-made millionaire gave to the people who knew him.

He was an influential figure in the community who enjoyed his country lifestyle. His former county home, Shray Hill House, between Crudgington and Newport, was put up for sale for £850,000 in 2007.

It is understood it was put on the market as his marriage to fourth wife, Denise, broke down. He then moved to Brewood to be with catering company boss Ms Rees.While living at the tiny hamlet of Shray Hill, Mr Worthington and his wife Denise kept chickens in their own woodland and enjoyed an extravagant but private life.

His love for the hamlet came when he bought the title of Lord and Lady of Shray Hill after they had a medieval themed wedding. It is understood he handed over just £1,000 for the title, although the title conferred no peerages or rights upon them.

The father-of-four, whose children are believed to have been from his previous three marriages, campaigned for a lower speed limit on the B5062 outside his home after a motorcyclist was killed and said he wanted it reduced from 60mph as he was also a keen motorcyclist.

Neighbours said they did not see a lot of the couple but his death had shocked the village. He and his wife enjoyed drinks at the nearby Sutherland Arms in Tibberton and he was said to be popular with regulars.

The £850,000 county family home boasted six-bedrooms, a sauna, views of the Welsh mountains from the roof terrace and the lawn where croquet could be played.

Mr Worthington, who regularly entertained guests at his Brewood home, had his own woodland at Shray Hill with a pool at the bottom and an outdoor entertaining barbecue area among his four acres of land.

Friends and neighbours in Codsall, where he lived before moving to Shropshire, said he chaired a village flower show committee and held fireworks displays at his home.

But others told of a man with a love of shotguns renowned for affairs and possessing a fiery temper.

And government records show a shrewd businessman who held sway over so many companies that the Office for Fair Trading had to force him to quit as managing director of steel forming company EWS. His post at EWS, based Bushbury, Wolverhampton, was made redundant in 2004 following the OFT ruling which found his other company Laird Security Systems had held a “decisive influence” over it.

Neighbours described his relationship over the last two to three years with 47-year-old Ms Rees as “on-off”.

Before moving to Shropshire, Mr Worthington renovated an idyllic home with a £1.25 million value in Codsall, where he and his fiancee Denise, who became his fourth wife in 2004, started their life together. The couple are understood to have had six children living with them who would now be aged 14 to 24. But just two years after marrying and moving to Shropshire the couple’s relationship broke down.

Mr Worthington began a relationship with Ms Rees and the couple then moved to the Hyde Mill Lane property in Brewood.

A friend, who did not want to be named, said: “He had a fiery temper and I believe the relationship with Julie had been on-off for some time over the last two to three years. Howard was known for having a fiery temper. Howard’s affairs and private life have been colourful to say the least.”

Other neighbours described them as a “smashing couple” and some said it was well known the businessman had faced financial problems over recent years.