A MAN who killed a two-year-old boy when he blew up his house has been jailed.
Andrew Partington, 29, formerly of Buckley Street, Shaw, admitted manslaughter and causing criminal damage (in excess of £1m).
Whith me u left your kids whith no dad no home good bye boom gas pipe cut allredy fild up boom told."
Jamie HeatonAt Manchester Crown Court today, Tuesday 19 February 2013, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison with a further five on licence.
Partington spent the afternoon and evening of Monday 25 June 2012, drinking. As the hours wore on he became more abusive to his girlfriend, who ultimately left the address with her five children, two of which are also his.
He returned home and found the house empty. At some point he cut through the main gas supply hose where it entered the house. He also cut a gas pipe in the void below the bath. The house subsequently slowly filled with gas.
When he was unable to contact his girlfriend on the phone he sent her a series of messages:
At 11.07pm: "So I gess I got yo show u then wot u. Meent to me never cheated on u all ways loved u get f****d naw good buy" (So I guess I have got to show you then what you meant to me. Never cheated on you, always loved you, get f****d, now goodbye)
At 11.31pm: "Told u next time u live me house go. Whith me u left your kids whith no dad no home good bye boom gas pipe cut allredy fild up boom told. U last time tell jur and aj I loved them but mum was a. Bich" (Told you next time you leave me, house goes up with me. You left your kids with no Dad, no home, goodbye, boom, gas pipe cut, already filled up, boom. Told you last time, tell Junior and AJ I loved them, but Mum was a bitch)
At 11.37pm: "See if u loved me but u don't good buy" (See, if you loved me, but you don't, goodbye)
At 12.37am (to his girlfriend’s brother): "Tell jur and aj I loved them" (Tell Junior and AJ, I loved them)
At about 11.15am on Tuesday 26 June 2012, Partington ignited the gas that had been filling the house (number 9).
At the same time, his neighbour at number 11, Michelle Heaton, was in the garden and in the process of hanging washing on the line. Her son, two-year-old Jamie, was inside watching Peppa Pig, one of his favourite television programmes.
The explosion destroyed numbers 7, 9 and 11 and caused significant structural damage to dozens more properties.
A number of GMP officers were in the area and heard the explosion. Within moments they were on the scene.
They assisted Michelle, who was frantic with worry, and courageously entered her house, which had been reduced to rubble, to search for Jamie. They also conducted initial searches of other houses.
Tragically Jamie was found dead inside.
Other emergency services arrived, including Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, the North West Ambulance Service and National Grid and a mass evacuation was initiated.
Partington was rescued from his house and taken by air ambulance to Wythenshawe hospital for treatment to 40% burns to his body and a broken back.
In a statement from Jamie's parents, Michelle and Kenny Heaton, they said: "On 26th June last year our lives were torn apart, as were those of our families and neighbours. Our dear son Jamie was killed in an explosion which occurred at our next door neighbour’s house.
"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.”
Detective Chief Inspector Pete Marsh, said: "First and foremost my thoughts and sympathies remain with Jamie’s parents, who have been a beacon of strength and dignity at this most distressing time.
"Andrew Partington is a bully who systematically verbally and physically abused his partner. When she found the strength to take herself and her children away from him, he spiralled out of control and committed an egregious act of spite that cost an innocent and much loved young boy his life.
"The scene of devastation was one not out of place in a war zone and it is sheer luck that no one else was killed or seriously injured.
"Jamie was only at home that day because he was unwell. Kenny and Michelle will fell that fate conspired against them in the most appalling way that day but I hope they feel a sense of justice now Partington has been held accountable.
"I also hope the local Shaw community feels some sense of justice today as they too continue to reel from what happened."
Buckley St after the explosion
Shaw explosion
