A teacher and his partner have been found guilty of murdering a 13-month-old baby boy after subjecting him to horrific physical and sexual abuse. Jamie Varley, 37, a former head of year at South Shore Academy in Blackpool, was convicted of murdering Preston Davey, while John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, a salesman, was found guilty of allowing the child's death.
The couple were in the process of adopting Preston when he collapsed at their home in Staining Road, Blackpool, on July 27, 2023, while in Varley's sole care. The baby was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital but died despite 50 minutes of resuscitation efforts. Varley initially claimed Preston had fallen from a bath seat, but a post-mortem revealed 40 non-accidental injuries, including signs of sexual abuse in the hours before his death.
Preston had been placed with the couple at nine months old, following an emergency care order by Oldham Council after his birth mother, convicted murderer Sarah Davey, had him removed. Over four months, the baby was treated like a 'plaything', suffering physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. Medical professionals raised concerns on at least nine occasions, but Varley explained away suspicious bruises, and police were stood down.
Detectives described the case as a 'harrowing tale of misery and pain'. Dr Alison Armour, who conducted the post-mortem, said there were unequivocal signs of sexual abuse. Varley gave a 'performance' of a grieving parent that a senior doctor described as unlike any she had seen before. McGowan-Fazakerley knew of the risk posed to Preston but did nothing to stop the abuse, a failure that cost the baby his life.
The couple, who had been approved to adopt after a training program with Adoption Now, appeared to be a perfect couple with flourishing careers and a modest home in Blackpool. They spoke of marriage and children from early in their relationship. The trial heard that Preston's mother, Sarah Davey, who was jailed for the 'unspeakably wicked' murder of a pensioner in 1998 when she was 14, was not identified to the jury.
