John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, and Jamie Varley, 37, have been convicted following the death of their adopted baby son, Preston Davey. The couple, once bound by a supposedly life-changing love, turned against each other in court as the dark details of their relationship emerged.
The Case
Varley was found guilty of murder, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of child cruelty, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, and multiple charges related to indecent images. McGowan-Fazakerley was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty, and one count of sexual assault. Both denied having a sexual interest in the child and pleaded not guilty, but jurors heard weeks of harrowing evidence.
Preston's Short Life
Preston, described as a sweet and bubbly baby, was adopted on April 1, 2023, at nine months old. He lived with the couple in Blackpool but died just four months later at 13 months old. On July 27, 2023, he suffered a cardiac arrest and was rushed to the hospital, where medics could not revive him. Varley claimed Preston had drowned in the bath, but no water was found in his lungs or the tub. A post-mortem found 40 external and internal injuries consistent with forcible penetration and sexual abuse. The cause of death was acute upper airways obstruction by smothering or insertion of objects into his mouth.
The Couple's Relationship
Varley, a design and technology teacher, said in court: “My whole life just changed when I met John.” However, the prosecution argued that Varley’s sexual interest in Preston became evident within weeks of the adoption and was shared by McGowan-Fazakerley. Disturbing videos showed Preston spinning on a playground, messing with his genitals, and having an apparent seizure. Dr Joanne Gifford, a child sexual abuse expert, described the footage as hard to watch, showing a child having unpleasant experiences.
Blame Game
Initially, McGowan-Fazakerley stood by Varley, but later distanced himself, claiming his trust had been misplaced. He said, “Preston’s life is like an iceberg, and there’s things under the water I did not know about.” He continued to believe Preston’s death was accidental until they were re-arrested in 2025. The prosecution suggested McGowan-Fazakerley was aware of the abuse, asking if he ever interviewed the prime suspect sharing a bed with him. McGowan-Fazakerley denied any knowledge or participation.
He was also questioned about a 14-minute video of Preston alone in an empty bath, learning to self-soothe, which he claimed only saw in court. He called it shocking, inappropriate, and pathetic. Another video showed Preston in a dangerous position in his cot, with his head and arms over the bar. McGowan-Fazakerley said he saw the child in that position but expected Varley to lay him down.
Prosecution Statement
Karen Tonge of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “This has been one of the most shocking and horrific cases I have dealt with. Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley had a responsibility to care for and protect baby Preston. They violated that responsibility and 13-month-old Preston was abused with sickening ease.”
