Prison authorities are taking extraordinary measures to ensure that Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley, the two men convicted for the horrific abuse and death of 21-month-old Preston Davey, remain separated for the entirety of their sentences. Insiders have revealed that the pair will be housed in different high-security prisons to protect them from violent retaliation by other inmates.
Sentences and Immediate Aftermath
Jamie Varley, 37, was handed a whole-life order for murder, child cruelty, sexual offences, and possession of indecent images. He spent his first night at HMP Wakefield, known as 'Monster Mansion', where inmates reportedly gave him a 'traditional prisoners welcome' by hammering on bars and issuing death threats. A source told the Daily Star: '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.'
John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, received a 25-year sentence for allowing the death of a child, child cruelty, and sexual abuse. He is expected to be transferred to HMP Manchester (Strangeways), a prison that has housed notorious criminals like Harold Shipman and Ian Brady. Insiders claim there is a 'bounty on his head' and that attacks on him are 'only a matter of time'.
Separation Strategy and Segregation
A source explained: 'Big bosses were not sure where to take him. Normally he would be going to Wakefield too, but Varley has been earmarked for there and they do not want the pair together. They want them separated for life.' Both men are currently held in segregation, spending most of their time alone in their cells under round-the-clock supervision. The source added: 'He's not safe. It is a matter of time before an attack is launched on him. The prisoners all want to get at him.'
Conditions at HMP Strangeways
HMP Strangeways, with capacity for 744 adult male inmates, is one of Britain's most notorious prisons. In January 2026, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor issued an urgent notification after finding that more than half of prisoners felt unsafe, and the rate of serious assaults was the highest among all adult male prisons. The report noted six self-inflicted deaths and three drug-related deaths since the last inspection, with self-harm rates among the highest in the country. Inspectors also observed a lack of order and control, with officers failing to challenge poor or criminal behaviour.
A source close to the situation concluded: 'It is grim in there. He is not in for a very nice time, that's for sure.'
