A man who blew up his house in a massive gas blast that killed his two-year-old next-door neighbour has been jailed for 10 years.
The explosion obliterated the rented home of Andrew Partington and neighbouring terrace houses in Shaw, Oldham, in June last year.
The body of toddler Jamie Heaton was found in the wreckage.
Partington (28) pleaded guilty at Manchester Crown Court in November to manslaughter and eight charges of destroying houses in the blast on Buckley Street on June 26.
Jamie had been watching television in the lounge while his mother was doing housework and his father was out at work.
He lived at 11 Buckley Street with his parents Kenny and Michelle, next door to Partington at number 9 and his partner Tania Williams and their children.
Partington drunkenly cut two gas pipes in his house because his girlfriend had left him and taken their children, the court heard.
Partington survived and was rescued by the emergency services. He spent weeks in hospital and still suffers from injuries sustained in the blast.
The cost of damage to the houses and surrounding streets has been estimated at around £1.2 million.
Sentencing Partington at Manchester Crown Court, Mr Justice Hamblen said: “The resulting scene of the devastation resembled a bomb site and in some senses it was. It was in effect a bomb that you created and detonated.
“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.”
He 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 the cigarette that caused the blast was “highly reckless”.
“You were aware of the risk but you chose unreasonably to take that risk.”
Partington received an extended sentence and he will remain on licence for another five years after his release.
Mrs Heaton said her son had “a wonderful life ahead of him”.
“We felt blessed to have Jamie,” she said.
“He had a huge personality and was cheeky. There is a huge space that Jamie once occupied. I miss him so much.”