'Goodbye. Boom' SMS sent before fatal blast
A man who blew up his house, killing a toddler in a neighbouring home, was enraged at his girlfriend and first sent her a text message saying "Goodbye. Boom."
Andrew Partington survived the blast in Greater Manchester but the body of autistic two-year-old Jaimie Heaton was found in the rubble, London's Telegraph website reports.
Partington was sentenced overnight to 10 years jail for the manslaughter of Jamie.
The website reports that Partington cut two gas pipes in his own home after his girlfriend took their children and left him, the Manchester Crown Court had heard.
He sent his partner, Tanya Williams, a series of text messages on the night before the explosion.
"So I guess I have to show you what you meant to me. Never cheated on you. Always loved you. Get f----- now. Goodbye."
In the next message he wrote: "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 let his house fill with gas overnight, but said he woke up and cut the gas supply and opened windows. He then lit a cigarette, which caused the devastating explosion.
The Telegraph reported the Justice Hamblen as saying: "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."
Justice Hamblen 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".
