Jamie Varley, the 37-year-old former teacher convicted of murdering and sexually abusing his 13-month-old adopted son Preston Davey, has been transferred to HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire, a Category A prison known as "Monster Mansion" due to its notorious inmates. According to the Daily Mail, Varley received a hostile reception from prisoners who banged on cell doors and shouted threats as he entered. A prison source said: "There's a bounty on his head, everyone wants to be the one to hurt him first." The source added: "The other prisoners knew he was coming and they waited for him. They want him scared and they want to make his time inside as awful as they can."
Varley Placed in Segregation for Safety
Varley has reportedly been placed in segregation under constant supervision while prison staff assess the risks to his safety. Former prison governor Vanessa Frake-Harris said offenders convicted of crimes against children are routinely targeted inside prison, with Varley's case likely to make him one of the most vulnerable inmates in the country. She told the newspaper he could face "non-stop psychological warfare", including constant abuse, death threats and the risk of violent attacks if exposed to the general prison population. Ms Frake-Harris said prison authorities would likely have to keep him on a vulnerable prisoners' unit or under strict segregation because integrating him with other inmates could place his life in immediate danger.
Wakefield's Infamous History and Violence
Mark Fairhurst, national chairman of the Prison Officers' Association, also warned Varley would become a major target. He described Wakefield as "one of the most dangerous prisons in the country" and said he would expect its newest high-profile inmate to remain in segregation for his own protection. Wakefield has long housed some of Britain's most infamous offenders, including child killer Roy Whiting, murderer Jeremy Bamber and serial killer Harold Shipman. Violence has repeatedly blighted the prison, with convicted child killer Kyle Bevan stabbed to death by fellow inmates last year.
Details of the Crime and Conviction
Varley's former partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was jailed for 25 years after being convicted of child cruelty, sexual abuse and allowing Preston's death. The pair are expected to be held separately throughout their sentences. The convictions followed an eight-week trial at Preston Crown Court, where jurors heard Preston suffered months of sustained abuse after being placed with the couple in April 2023. The toddler was taken to hospital several times with suspicious injuries, including bruising and a broken elbow, but concerns were not escalated before his death. A post-mortem examination found 40 external and internal injuries, including injuries consistent with sexual abuse. Varley claimed Preston had drowned in the bath, but prosecutors said he staged the scene after inflicting catastrophic injuries on the child. He was convicted of murder, while McGowan-Fazakerley was found guilty of child cruelty, sexual assault and causing or allowing Preston's death.
