‘Goodbye, boom... gas pipes cut’

The scene of devastation in Buckley Street

Chilling texts reveal how ‘bully’ set out blow up his home
JOBLESS Andrew Partington set out to deliberately blow up his home to spite his girlfriend, the court heard yesterday.

The father of six lived with Tania Williams and her five children at 11 Buckley Street — next door to the Heatons. The couple were described as having a “stormy” relationship by neighbours.

Andrew Menary, for the prosecution, said: “The relationship was often difficult, particularly after the defendant had been drinking or had taken drugs. He would be controlling and intimidating towards her, sometimes violent.”

After spending much of the day before the blast drinking and becoming more abusive towards her, Tania took her children and left him for the night.

After11pm Partington sent her a series of messages, including: “So I guess I have to show you what you meant to me. Never cheated on you. Always loved you. Get f****d now. Goodbye.”

In the chilling 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 severed a pipe leading to the gas meter and another in the rear bedroom, Manchester Crown Court heard yesterday. He let his house fill with gas for around 11 hours.

Evidence suggested he might have switched the gas off before the blast after a “minor change of heart”. He couldn’t remember.

Next morning on waking he lit a cigarette at around 11.15am and set off the devastating and tragic consequences. The blast was heard miles away.

Partington survived with near 40 per cent burns to his body, and a broken back. Jamie was crushed under the rubble next door, his body not recovered until 9.20pm that night. The cost of damage was estimated at around £1.2 million.

Adam Roxborough, defending, said: “When he lit the cigarette it was not a deliberate attempt to ignite the gas. That desire had come and gone since he had slept. The only harm he ever intended was to himself and the only suffering was to be his own.

“If he could give his life to bring Jamie back, he would.”

Sentencing him, Mr Justice Hamblen said: “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.

“You were aware of the risk but you chose unreasonably to take that risk.”

After his prison sentence he will spend a further five years on licence