19 Feb 2013

Man who killed toddler in house explosion jailed

A man who killed a two-year-old boy when he blew up his house, destroying neighbouring properties, is jailed for 10 years.

Andrew Partington (left) has been jailed for ten years for the manslaughter of Jamie Heaton (right) and for criminal damage

Andrew Partington, 28, was jailed for 10 years, with a further five on licence, after admitting the manslaughter of toddler Jamie Heaton, as well as causing criminal damage, on 26 June last year.

Manchester crown court heard that Partington had been drinking heavily and had become abusive to his girlfriend on the day before the explosion. On returning to his home at Buckley Street in Shaw, Oldham, he found his girlfriend had left the property with her five children, two of whom were his.

Partington then cut through the main gas supply into the house, as well as a gas pipe below his bath, filling his home with gas. At 11.15am on 26 June he ignited the gas, destroying his property, number seven, as well as numbers nine and 11.

The fact that the act was deliberate and totally avoidable has made the grieving ever harder to manage – Michelle and Kenny Heaton

At the same time, his neighbour at number 11, Michelle Heaton, was in the garden hanging washing on the line. Her son, Jamie, was inside watching Peppa Pig, one of his favourite television programmes.

A number of Greater Manchester police officers were also in the area, and shortly arrived at the scene. They helped Ms Heaton search for Jamie (pictured, below) in the house, which had been reduced to rubble, but the boy was found dead.

Partington was rescued from his house and taken by air ambulance to Wythenshawe hospital for treatment. He had 40 per cent burns to his body and a broken back.

‘Beautiful, healthy and loving’

Jamie’s parents, Michelle and Kenny Heaton, said in a statement that their lives had been “torn apart”.

Jamie Heaton, who was killed in the explosion in June last year

“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,” the statement said.

“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.

“Jamie was nearly two and a half years old. He was a beautiful, healthy and loving little boy who was full of life. He had his whole future ahead of him. Like children of that age he was full of adventure and mischief and above all he was great fun.

“He was intelligent and constantly trying to outwit us both as he worked on his next scheme to find his crayons to redecorate the walls.

“Jamie idolised his brother and sister, Jack and Jodie and they played so nicely together. They played hide and seek and were constantly wrestling.

“We often wondered what the future would hold for Jamie and his achievements, his great grandma said he was a ‘genius’. Unfortunately we will never find out.”

The parents have also set up a charity in their son’s memory, Jamie’s Something Special, which will raise funds to proivde children’s play equipment in the area, and to benefit children with autism.

Message trail

Greater Manchester police have released messages from Partington to his girlfriend from the day before the explosion, in which he tells her he is going to blow up their home.

The scene of devastation was one not out of place in a war zone. Detective Chief Inspector Pete Marsh

One of the text messages he sent to his partner, Tania Williams, at 11.31pm, read: “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 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).

At 11.37pm he sent: “See if u loved me but u don’t good buy” (See, if you loved me, but you don’t, goodbye), which he then followed at 12:37am with a message to his grilfriend’s brother, which read: “Tell jur and aj I loved them” (Tell Junior and AJ, I loved them).

‘War zone’

Greater Manchester Police described Partington as a “bully”, who committed a “selfish and reckless act”.

The explosion at Buckley Street, Shaw, which destroyed three properties (picture: Getty)

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.

“Tragically, what compounds this tragedy for Jamie’s mother and father is that this selfish and reckless act was completely avoidable.

“The scene of devastation (pictured, above) 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 feel 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.”