Preston Davey's grandmother has revealed that his birth mother begged social workers to let the family keep the child before he was adopted and subsequently murdered, according to reports.
Preston Davey was placed in foster care until he was adopted at nine months old by Jamie Varley, 37, a former secondary school head of year, and his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32. Over the next four months until his death, Preston was used as a "plaything," suffering routine physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and having indecent photos and videos taken of him.
Varley was convicted of murder and 24 other offenses following an eight-week trial at Preston Crown Court. McGowan-Fazakerley was convicted of allowing the death of a child and three other offenses.
Grandmother's Account
Preston's birth mother, Sarah Davey, now 42, was jailed as a 14-year-old for murdering widower Lily Lilley, 71, in Failsworth, near Oldham, in 1998. She has since been in and out of prison, and Preston was taken into foster care five days after his birth.
His maternal grandmother, Debbie Davey, 66, from Oldham, told The Daily Telegraph she wanted to care for him but was unable to do so at the time because she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The family had reportedly asked for a foster family to take the child temporarily until Debbie recovered.
Debbie, who sobbed in court as the jury returned guilty verdicts, said she did not believe two men should raise a child. "I think a child should be brought up by a mum and a dad. That is my belief," she said.
She added: "Sarah wanted to keep Preston but she was told he was going to a foster home. Preston was with Sarah for a week while they were both in hospital but then Preston was given a foster home."
Debbie, now cancer-free, said: "Sarah spoke to the social worker telling her that she didn't want Preston adopted. She begged the foster mother to keep Preston but was told she could not because she was only a foster mother. We wanted social services to allow Preston to stay with foster parents until I was better but they wouldn't allow it. If they'd agreed, he would be here with me today."
Details of the Case
Preston, who would have turned four on Tuesday, was born on June 16, 2022, and adopted by Varley and McGowan in April 2023. Four months later, he was dead. Varley claimed he had accidentally drowned in a bath at their Blackpool home on July 27, 2023. However, a post-mortem examination identified more than 40 injuries on his body, as well as internal injuries indicating sexual abuse.
His cause of death was established as acute upper airway obstruction, suggesting something had been inserted into his mouth blocking his airway. He had been admitted to hospital three times in the months before his death, and a social services investigation is under way.
Varley and McGowan will be sentenced on Thursday.
