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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Jamie Heaton blast death: Andrew Partington jailed | Jamie Heaton blast death: Andrew Partington jailed |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A man who blew up his Greater Manchester home in a gas blast that killed his neighbour's two-year-old son has been jailed for 10 years. | A man who blew up his Greater Manchester home in a gas blast that killed his neighbour's two-year-old son has been jailed for 10 years. |
| Jamie Heaton died as he watched TV at his home in Buckley Street, Shaw, Oldham, which was destroyed in the blast on 26 June. | Jamie Heaton died as he watched TV at his home in Buckley Street, Shaw, Oldham, which was destroyed in the blast on 26 June. |
| Andrew Partington, 28, who lived next door, previously admitted manslaughter at Manchester Crown Court. | Andrew Partington, 28, who lived next door, previously admitted manslaughter at Manchester Crown Court. |
| Partington, a father-of-six, suffered 40% burns and a broken back. | Partington, a father-of-six, suffered 40% burns and a broken back. |
| Jamie had been in the lounge while his mother was doing housework and his father was out at work. | Jamie had been in the lounge while his mother was doing housework and his father was out at work. |
| The toddler's mother survived the blast as she had gone into the back yard to hang out her washing. | The toddler's mother survived the blast as she had gone into the back yard to hang out her washing. |
| 'Stormy relationship' | 'Stormy relationship' |
| Jamie lived with his parents, Kenny and Michelle, and two siblings, next door to Partington, who lived with his partner, Tania Williams, and their children. | Jamie lived with his parents, Kenny and Michelle, and two siblings, next door to Partington, who lived with his partner, Tania Williams, and their children. |
| Partington and Ms Williams had a stormy relationship, according to locals, with police being called to one incident. | Partington and Ms Williams had a stormy relationship, according to locals, with police being called to one incident. |
| Neighbours said there was a row the night before the blast and Partington had been drinking. | Neighbours said there was a row the night before the blast and Partington had been drinking. |
| He cut two gas pipes in his house because his girlfriend had left him and taken their children, the court heard. | He cut two gas pipes in his house because his girlfriend had left him and taken their children, the court heard. |
| He sent a series of text messages to his partner Ms Williams on the night before the explosion. | He sent a series of text messages to his partner Ms Williams on the night before the explosion. |
| One said: "Told you next time you leave, house goes up with me. You left your kids with no dad no home. Goodbye. Boom. Gas pipes cut. Already filled up. Boom." | One said: "Told you next time you leave, house goes up with me. You left your kids with no dad no home. Goodbye. Boom. Gas pipes cut. Already filled up. Boom." |
| He let his house fill with gas overnight, but said he woke up, turned off the gas supply and opened windows. | He let his house fill with gas overnight, but said he woke up, turned off the gas supply and opened windows. |
| Partington then lit a cigarette at about 11.20 BST, and the gas which was still in the property ignited. | Partington then lit a cigarette at about 11.20 BST, and the gas which was still in the property ignited. |
| Partington spent weeks in hospital and still suffers from injuries sustained in the blast. | Partington spent weeks in hospital and still suffers from injuries sustained in the blast. |
| Sentencing him, Mr Justice Hamblen said: "The resulting scene of the devastation resembled a bomb site and in some senses it was. It was in effect a bomb that you created and detonated. | Sentencing him, Mr Justice Hamblen said: "The resulting scene of the devastation resembled a bomb site and in some senses it was. It was in effect a bomb that you created and detonated. |
| "As a result of your reckless actions you have caused the death of Jamie. You have taken away his life and a large part of his parents and siblings' lives." | "As a result of your reckless actions you have caused the death of Jamie. You have taken away his life and a large part of his parents and siblings' lives." |
| 'Selfish act' | |
| He accepted it appeared that Partington had a change of heart in blowing up the house when he woke up the next day but said lighting a cigarette was "highly reckless". | He accepted it appeared that Partington had a change of heart in blowing up the house when he woke up the next day but said lighting a cigarette was "highly reckless". |
| "You were aware of the risk but you chose unreasonably to take that risk," he said. | "You were aware of the risk but you chose unreasonably to take that risk," he said. |
| The cost of damage to the houses and surrounding streets has been estimated at about £1.2m. | The cost of damage to the houses and surrounding streets has been estimated at about £1.2m. |
| After the sentencing, Kenny and Michelle Heaton released a statement about their "beautiful, healthy boy". | |
| They said: "When we heard the tragic news that no parent would ever expect to hear, we wanted to believe there was a reasonable explanation for what happened. | |
| "As time went by and after extensive enquiries we have learned that the explosion was caused by a selfish and deliberate criminal act. | |
| "The fact that the act was deliberate and totally avoidable has made the grieving ever harder to manage." | |
| They went on to thank the local community for the support offered in the aftermath of the blast, and the emergency services. | |
| PC Paul Darlington was one of the first officers on the scene after the blast. | PC Paul Darlington was one of the first officers on the scene after the blast. |
| Speaking about the moment he found Jamie, he said: "Tragically I found him dead inside [the house] and this is something that still haunts me. | |
| "Despite our best efforts we could not free him from the rubble at that time and I just wish the outcome had been different for him and his family. | "Despite our best efforts we could not free him from the rubble at that time and I just wish the outcome had been different for him and his family. |
| "I hope they have found some comfort now Andrew Partington has been sentenced and my thoughts and sympathies remain with them." | "I hope they have found some comfort now Andrew Partington has been sentenced and my thoughts and sympathies remain with them." |