Trushali
- 18 June 2026
Teacher who murdered adopted baby Preston Davey jailed – BBC News
Lauren Hirst
North West
Published 18 June 2026Â
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Jamie Varley was convicted of murder following a trial at Preston Crown Court
A teacher who sexually abused and murdered the 13-month-old baby boy he adopted with his partner has been told he will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Preston Davey died in July 2023 at the hands of Jamie Varley, 37, who subjected the child to physical, sexual and emotional abuse during the final four months of his life.
Varley, from Blackpool, told police Preston had accidentally drowned in a bath, but a post-mortem examination discovered the child had suffered 40 injuries.
His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, who was found guilty of sexual assault, child cruelty and allowing the death of a child, was sentenced to 25 years.
A whole life order means they will never be released from prison, except in exceptional compassionate circumstances.
Warning: This article contains distressing information
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Turner said Preston had faced “unremitting abuse” and neglect before being killed by Varley during a sex attack.
Turning to Varley, he said: “It was you who did this. You murdered him.
“A whole life order is a sentence of last resort for cases of the most extreme gravity.
“This is a case of the most extreme gravity. You must stay in prison for the rest of your life. You will never be eligible for parole.”
McGowan-Fazakerley was found guilty of sexual assault, child cruelty and allowing the death of a child
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Preston, who was born in June 2022, was taken into care at five days old following an emergency care order by Oldham Council.
He was placed with foster parents, remaining with them for the first nine months of his life.
Preston’s mother, Sarah Davey, now 42, had been jailed at the age of 14 for the murder of a frail pensioner in 1998 and had been in and out of prison since then.
Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley were approved for adoption in January 2023 and Preston began living at their home in Blackpool in April, when he was nine months old.
But during the four months he was in their care, he was routinely ill-treated, sexually abused and physically assaulted, suffering 40 traumatic injuries.
Jamie Varley (left), and John McGowan-Fazakerley both deny all the charges against them
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After Preston began living at the couple’s home, he began to suffer non-accidental “cluster” injuries of bruising, seizures or respiratory failures, and there was evidence of abnormality of his anatomy.
In the months before his death, Preston was taken to hospital three times.
Firstly for a nose bleed and seizure, for the second time with a rash and bruising, and on the third occasion with a fractured left elbow.
On 27 July, he was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital by Varley for the final time.
Varley told medical staff he had left the child in the bath for two or three minutes and returned to find him submerged.
But he was dry and there was no evidence Preston had swallowed water.
Medics were unable to revive Preston, and he was pronounced dead in hospital.
A post-mortem examination found 40 external and internal trauma injuries to the child’s body, with some consistent with “forcible penetration” and sexual abuse.
It also ruled out drowning as a cause of death.
The tragic 13 months of Preston Davey’s life
A timeline of key moments outlined at the trial at Preston Crown Court – refer to the above link
A spokesperson for Oldham Council previously said: “The death of any child is a tragedy, but this is a particularly heart-wrenching and disturbing case.
“We are thankful that the perpetrators of the sickening murder and abuse of an innocent child have today been convicted for their crimes.”
They said an independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review was already under way, which would examine the handling of Preston’s safeguarding.
“Our thoughts remain with Preston’s family, loved ones, and the many people affected by this case.”
Regional adoption agency, Adoption Now, said it was a “deeply upsetting case, and our thoughts are with everyone affected by these truly awful crimes”.
It said it followed “a strict and rigorous process… in the assessment and approval of adopters”.
“An independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review is being completed.”
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