A grieving widow fought back tears today as she paid tribute to her husband who was killed in a tragic shooting accident.

Isobel Dent described Jason as "an absolute angel'' who lived for hunting and doted on her and his 11-year-old daughter.

Mr Dent, 33, of Yeadon, died while out shooting rabbits with a friend in Cumbria. It is thought his shotgun went off accidentally while he was trying to grab hold of one of his dogs.

Police say they are not treating his death as suspicious and have described the incident as a "tragic accident."

Mrs Dent, 27, a project manager for First Direct in Leeds, said: "As far as I know it was a complete accident. He was struggling to get hold of one of his dogs when the gun just went off.

"His friend saw it all happen and is absolutely devastated. I'm still in shock and everyone's stunned because it's not like him to make a mistake like that.''

Mrs Dent said her husband - who she met ten years ago before marrying him in 1998 - had been into hunting all his life.

She added: "His dad's just the same and got him into it - there are pictures of him with ferrets when he was only three.

"He was a hunting man through and through - he lived for his dogs and shooting and was away virtually every weekend during the hunting season.

"He was a very strong supporter of the Countryside Alliance - he'd been on the march in London last year and the thought of them taking away his hunting life scared him.''

Mr Dent, who grew up in Yeadon, leaves his widow, an 11-year-old daughter, Lisa, from a previous relationship, parents Margaret and Mick and a younger brother Christopher.

The former Benton Park School pupil worked as a paint sprayer and had recently joined ID Maintenance in Horsforth.

Mrs Dent said: "He adored his daughter and did everything for me. He was an absolute angel and I just don't know how I'm going to live without him.''

A funeral service is expected to be held over the next few days at St Oswald's in Guiseley, the church where Mr and Mrs Dent married in October 1998.

Mrs Dent said: "Everyone knows him and he had hundreds of friends all over the country from his hunting.

"We're expecting the church to be packed and people will be coming from as far away as Cumbria, Ireland and Scotland.

"His family and friends have been really supportive - they all have a funny story for me and that's what's keeping me going at the moment.''

She added: "He was an absolute character, really jokey and taking the mickey out of everyone all the time.

"He was totally honest, frank and up front but put everyone else before himself and no matter what was asked of him he'd do it - he always did anything for anyone which is why I adored him.''

A spokesman for Cumbria police said the gun involved was believed to have belonged to Mr Dent and that he and his friend had been on land at Croft Ends near Appleby with the owner's permission.

He added: "He was out shooting with another man and sustained fatal shotgun wounds when a gun went off near his vehicle.

"There are no suspicious circumstances and it appears to be purely and simply a tragic accident although we will have to wait for the coroner's verdict.''

Mr Dent was certified dead at the scene and an inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned in Carlisle.

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