Manchester court jailed a “reckless” man for 10 years after he blew up his house in an explosion that killed his two-year-old neighbour.A
Toddler Jamie Heaton died at his home in Oldham when Andrew Partington, 28, lit a cigarette that triggered a huge gas blast, Manchester Crown Court heard.
Partington, a father-of-six, suffered 40 percent burns and a broken back in the blast and had earlier admitted to manslaughter.
The court was told that he had cut two gas pipes in his house because his partner, Tania Williams, had left him and taken their children.
He sent a series of text messages to Williams the night before the blast.
One read: “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.”
Partington said he woke up the next morning and tried to clear the gas from the house, but sparked an explosion when he ignited a cigarette.
Judge Nicholas 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.”
Man jailed over blast that killed toddler
