Full video of judge handing Jamie Varley whole life order for murdering Preston Davey. WARNING: This article contains distressing and sensitive material from the sentencing of the murdered 13-month-old.
Judge Mr Justice Turner sentences Jamie Varley to life behind bars for the murder of Preston Davey
This is the moment a judge handed a whole life order to the depraved killer of 13-month-old Preston Davey.
Jamie Varley, 37, was told he will never be released from prison today (June 18) after being convicted of the baby's murder and a string of child sex offences. The court heard how the high school teacher had sexually abused Preston and treated him as a 'plaything' after adopting him at the age of nine months old.
His partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was jailed for 25 years for his part in the tragic death of the tot. He was convicted of allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.
Cameras filmed the moment High Court judge Mr Justice Turner handed down his sentence to the defendants at Preston Crown Court today.
The Manchester Evening News was unable to share live footage from the courtroom because of the extremely distressing and sensitive information within his sentencing remarks.
The video above has been edited but still contains highly upsetting details surrounding Preston's murder. Mr Justice Turner told the court how Preston had suffered 'unremitting abuse' and neglect before being killed by Varley during a sex attack.
Turning to the killer during sentencing, he said: 'It was you who did this. You murdered him. A whole life order is a sentence of last resort for cases of the most extreme gravity. This is a case of the most extreme gravity. You must stay in prison for the rest of your life. You will never be eligible for parole.'
Sentencing McGowan-Fazakerley, the judge said: 'Your culpability involved serious neglect of Preston. You failed to take any steps to protect him.'
Preston was born to convicted killer Sarah Davey on June 16, 2022. Five days after he was born, the 5lb 7oz tot was taken into the care of Oldham Council.
Sarah had herself issued a harrowing statement to the court as the pair were sentenced, saying she would 'never forgive' the men for Preston's death. Read in full here.
Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley were approved for adoption in January 2023. At the age of nine months old, in April 2023, Preston began living at their home in Blackpool, Lancashire.
In the months that followed, Preston was subjected to ever increasing physical, sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of teacher Varley. McGowan-Fazakerley turned a blind eye to the escalating abuse and on July 23 took part in a joint attack on Preston, as he slumped helplessly over the bars of his cot.
On July 27, Preston was carried into Blackpool Victoria Hospital in cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead at 7.18pm.
Earlier this week, Varley was found guilty of murder; GBH; sexual assault; cruelty; and making, taking and distributing indecent images of Preston. McGowan-Fazakerley was convicted of causing or allowing Preston's death; cruelty; and sexual assault.
