Man charged with manslaughter of two-year-old in suspected Oldham gas explosion

A man has been charged with the manslaughter of a two-year-old boy in a suspected gas explosion which flattened a number of homes in Oldham.

• Suspect was brought out of coma after being injured in explosion

• Gas fitter who inspected boiler remains on police bail

Jamie Heaton died in the blast while watching TV in his home in Shaw on June 26.

Andrew Partington, 27, who was injured in the incident, has been charged with manslaughter and causing criminal damage worth more than £1 million.

He is due to appear at Oldham Magistrates’ Court, said Greater Manchester Police.

Partington, formerly of Buckley Street, Shaw, suffered burns in the explosion in Buckley Street and was recently brought out of a coma at the hospital where he was treated.

The seat of the blast was at his rented terrace house, which was next door to the home of Jamie and his parents, Kenny and Michelle.

Following Jamie’s death, they paid tribute to “our little man” who was “a happy, little boy, mischievous and full of laughter”.

Damage

Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS north west area Nazir Afzal said: “I have today advised Greater Manchester Police to charge Andrew Partington with the manslaughter of Jamie Heaton, aged two, and causing criminal damage valued at over £1 million to houses in Buckley Street, Shaw, Oldham, on June 26 2012.

“Police were called to the scene of a gas explosion in Buckley Street at around 11.15am where two houses, number nine and number 11, were destroyed in the blast and other homes damaged.”

A 32-year-old man, a gas fitter who is believed to have examined the boiler at Mr Partington’s home days before the explosion, remains on police bail pending further inquiries.