A man who blew up his Greater Manchester home in a gas blast that killed his neighbour's two-year-old son has been jailed for 10 years.
Jamie Heaton died as he watched TV at his home in Buckley Street, Shaw, Oldham, which was destroyed in the blast on 26 June.
Andrew Partington, 28, who lived next door, had previously admitted manslaughter at Manchester Crown Court.
Partington, a father-of-six, suffered 40% burns and a broken back.
Jamie had been in the lounge while his mother was doing housework and his father was out at work.
The toddler's mother survived the blast as she had gone into the back yard to hang out her washing.
'Stormy relationship'
Jamie lived at 11 Buckley Street with his parents Kenny and Michelle and two siblings, next door to Partington at number nine who lived with his partner, Tania Williams, and their children.
Partington and Ms Williams had a stormy relationship, according to locals, with police being called to one incident.
Neighbours said there was another row the night before the blast and Partington had been drinking.
He cut two gas pipes in his house because his girlfriend had left him and taken their children, the court heard.
He sent a series of text messages to his partner Ms Williams on the night before the explosion.
Andrew Partington spent weeks in hospital after the blast
One said: "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."
He let his house fill with gas overnight, but said he woke up, turned off the gas supply and opened windows.
Partington then lit a cigarette at about 11.20 BST, and the gas which was still in the property ignited.
He survived and was rescued by the emergency services.
Partington spent weeks in hospital and still suffers from injuries sustained in the blast.
Sentencing him, 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 a cigarette was "highly reckless".
"You were aware of the risk but you chose unreasonably to take that risk," he said.
The cost of damage to the houses and surrounding streets has been estimated at about £1.2m.
Mrs Heaton said her son had "a wonderful life ahead of him".
"We face a future which scares me," she said. "There is a huge space that Jamie once occupied. I miss him so much."
Husband Kenny said his son "brought light to any room and always wanted to have fun".
He said the destruction of their home and the loss of personal possessions such as the youngster's toys compounded their grief.
"All I want to see was Jamie's room as he left it," he said. "I have a massive void in my heart."
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