A high school teacher has been found guilty of the murder and sexual abuse of a 13-month-old baby he treated as a 'plaything'.
Details of the Case
Jamie Varley, 37, adopted Preston Davey at nine months old with his partner, former public schoolboy and financial sales manager John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32. Preston had been taken from his mother, Sarah Davey, now 42, by an emergency care order from Oldham Council. Ms Davey, aged 14 at the time, had been jailed 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, and Preston began living at their home in Blackpool, Lancashire, in April 2023. However, in the just under four months he was in their care, he was routinely ill-treated, had indecent images and videos taken of him, was sexually abused, and physically assaulted, suffering 40 traumatic injuries, the trial at Preston Crown Court heard.
Verdicts
Following an eight-week trial, a jury spent around 14 hours considering verdicts before returning to court. Varley was found guilty of murder, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child, one of distributing an indecent photo of a child to his co-accused, and one of making an indecent photo.
McGowan-Fazakerley was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty, and one count of sexual assault of a child.
Varley stood in the dock and put his hands to his face in shock as the guilty verdicts were read, before collapsing to his knees, retching and vomiting. His co-accused made no reaction, while McGowan-Fazakerley's father shook his head. Preston's mother and grandmother burst into tears, sobbing throughout as the 29 guilty verdicts were returned.
Both defendants will not be sentenced today, and Mr Justice Turner said he will pass sentence on Thursday.
