WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Ex-teacher Jamie Varley, 37, and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, have been jailed following horrific abuse that led to the death of Preston Davey.
Baby murderer Jamie Varley tells police: 'I will fight you to the day I die'
The paedophiles jailed for the murder and abuse of adopted baby Preston Davey were described as the “odd couple”, but who presented themselves as happy, successful, model prospective parents. However, they hide an evil dark side from the world that was tragically only uncovered following the 13-month-old baby's death.
Jamie Varley was described in court as a self-confessed “Drama Queen” and "full of himself", while John McGowan-Fazakerley, reserved and level-headed, was the “Steady Eddie” in their relationship.
Varley, 37, a former head of year at a high school, and his partner, ex-public schoolboy and sales manager John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, sexually assaulted and physically abused Preston after adopting him aged nine months, before his murder following a sex assault by Varley four months later at their Blackpool home.
The sick teacher was given a life order for his crimes while McGowan-Fazakerley was also jailed for 25 years.
Killer Jamie Varley was reportedly 'full of himself'
The twisted couple, who met on Canal Street in Manchester’s gay village in late 2018, hit it off but came from a very different backgrounds.
Varley was born in Newark but grew up in Blackpool, telling the jury his mother, Karen Graham, a mother-of-six and “matriarchal” head of the family, was his “best friend”. He worked for a time as a lifeguard and his dyslexia meant it took several years before he managed to become a teacher. He had been assisting in classrooms before taking his teaching qualifications, taking up a full-time role as a design and technology teacher at South Shore High School, in Blackpool, in 2021.
Preston Davey suffered four months of abuse before his death
Varley was well regarded and promoted to a designated safeguarding lead with a significant pastoral role. During jury selection before the trial started, a panel of 60 potential jurors filed in to court and were asked if they recognised the men in the dock. “He was my head of year at high school,” one young lady told the judge, who excused her from sitting on the jury.
McGowan-Fazakerley grew up in the far leafier surrounds of Congleton in Cheshire, an only child, he attended The King’s School in Macclesfield, a 500-year-old private establishment, charging fees of £18,000 a year.
After passing A-levels, he went to Nottingham Trent University, spending his second year on a study abroad scheme, at Murdoch University, Australia, before transferring to Keele University, studying history and politics. After his degree, he did a Masters in politics, diplomatic studies and international relations and began a PhD, also teaching undergraduates at Keele and working as a campus bar manager. But he found academia a lonely time, his friends had launched their careers, so gave up studying to start work in financial sales. He was promoted to northern sales manager in 2022, working in Salford Quays.
Varley was clearly the boss in the relationship, according to the couple’s friends – and a neighbour described him as “full of himself”. They would often hear through the walls Varley shouting at McGowan-Fazakerley, but never the other way round.
The twisted couple even held a 'chosen party' for Preston
Within six months of meeting, McGowan-Fazakerley had moved to Blackpool and in 2020 the couple bought a £220,000 three-bed semi-detached house on the outskirts of the resort, complete with marble floors and chandeliers. Varley’s phone was virtually an extension of his body, snap happy, he presented his life on social media as “Instagram ready”, as one detective put it. His social media feed included snaps of a smiling Varley, his immaculate home, successful career, and his miniature pincher dog Maximus, who the couple doted on.
All he needed to complete his life, he said, was a child. His wish was about to become true. After approval for adoption in February 2022, they were matched with Preston, a nine-month-old in foster care, who “lit up the room” with his smiles. The couple hosted a “Chosen Shower” with cake, decorations and balloon arch – with Varley painting a living room wall mural of “Preston Elijah”, the name they chose to give him.
His adoption reports stated the little boy needed: “Love, affection, safety and stability.” Instead, he was sexually abused, tormented and treated as a “plaything” after he began living at their home in April, 2022. Varley took a year off work to adopt, his partner, who earned more, continued in his job – but also did the cooking, shopping, laundry and was also a “clean freak”.
After McGowan-Fazakerley left for work with his briefcase each morning, Preston was left at the mercy of Varley; soon annoyed with childcare, frustrated with a lack of sleep and with a sexual interest in children. Jurors were shown the body-worn footage from police officers called to the hospital to speak to Varley. Det Chief Inspector Andy Fallows, who led the murder investigation, said: “You can see he was walking around theatrically, threw himself to the floor at one point, very theatrical. “I think I referred to it before as a pantomime, and that’s very much how it felt, buying himself time to concoct a story to explain what he had done to that little boy.”
Despite a “battery of professionals” around the family, including two social workers, Preston suffered multitude indignities, including indecent photos taken by Varley, who police later discovered also had extreme pornographic images involving animals on his phone. There were no tears for Preston during the defendant’s trial, Varley seemingly affronted to be accused of sex offences, claiming police and child experts were wrong.
McGowan-Fazakerley ran a “hear no evil, see no evil” defence, claiming he was not aware of any abuse – but jurors decided he not only knew but took part in the sexual abuse. Three times in court giving evidence he complained about his life now being ruined – without mentioning Preston once. Det Chief Inspector Fallows described Varley as “an arrogant, self-centred liar”. He added: “He is a serial manipulator and a serial liar, and his defence has basically been everybody else is wrong, and that’s happened on numerous occasions. “I don’t see any evidence of regret, remorse, or actually sorrow for Preston Davey.”
