Convicted child killer Varley has reportedly changed his name to Harry Robb in a desperate attempt to protect himself behind bars, after a bounty was placed on his head. The 34-year-old is serving a whole-life order for the sexual abuse and murder of his adopted 13-month-old son, Preston Davey.
Fear and isolation in Monster Mansion
Varley is being held at HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire, known as Monster Mansion, which houses some of the UK's most notorious offenders. He has been placed on D Wing, referred to by other inmates as the "super nonces wing," reserved for child killers and sex offenders. According to the Mail, Varley was shaking and had tears "welling up" as he was taken to his cell, and he now spends most of his time locked down, only emerging for meals and exercise.
Name change and bounty
Sources claim Varley adopted the name Harry Robb following reports that a bounty had been placed on his head. The Mail wrote: "Following reports a bounty had been placed on his head, Varley changed his name in a desperate attempt to save his skin." A source told the outlet that several inmates have already approached his cell, trying to "suss" him out, and that Varley has found an associate, a "no-mark con" he apparently knew from Liverpool.
Former inmate predicts torment
Ricky Killeen, a former inmate who served time with Soham murderer Ian Huntley, spoke on his Behind Bars TV YouTube channel about the ordeal Varley faces. He said: "He will spend the rest of his sorry days, sh*****g himself, petrified, waiting for that fateful day when karma comes a-knocking and looking for him." Killeen added that Varley will be "living in misery for the rest of his life," experiencing "despair, anxiety, hopelessness."
Background of the case
Varley was sentenced to a whole-life order in July 2025 for the murder of Preston Davey, whom he subjected to "unspeakable" abuse. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, received 25 years for child cruelty, sexual abuse, and allowing the death of a child. A former prison governor previously warned that Varley could face "non-stop psychological warfare" at HMP Wakefield, where paedophile rock singer Ian Watkins was killed in 2024.
