Sun fined for gas-blast breach

Paper broke rules in Partington prosecution 

THE Sun newspaper has been fined £3,350 for breaching reporting restrictions during the prosecution of Andrew Partington, who caused the gas explosion that killed a two-year-old boy in Shaw.

The breach relates to a report the paper published following Partington’s appearance at Oldham Magistrates’ Court last year. Partington (28) was later jailed for 10 years for causing the explosion that killed toddler Jamie Heaton and destroyed his and neighbouring properties.

Manchester Magistrates heard the newspaper’s report of Partington’s first appearance before magistrates included details of the evidence against him, namely the content of text messages Partington sent, which formed the basis of the prosecution case.

Though the details had been outlined in court, reporting restrictions should have prevented all but basic details of any case being revealed, to guard against the possibility of prejudicing a future jury.

District Judge Jonathan Taaffe said The Sun’s report on September 11 last year “clearly went beyond what was permitted”.

He said: “This was at best shoddy journalism and at worst an example of sensational reporting.”

Mr Taaffe fined the paper £3,350 and ordered it to pay costs of £620.

Jonathan Caplan QC, defending News Group Newspapers, said the newspaper fully admitted its error and had apologised to the court.