Evil ex-teacher Jamie Varley, who murdered and sexually assaulted 13-month-old Preston Davey, told police he would fight them 'til the day I die' after being suspected of the baby's death.
Varley's Reaction to Police Interview
The 37-year-old, who was given a whole life order for four months of horrific abuse, also told police they were making a 'mountain out of a molehill' as he protested his innocence. Varley was told he would never be released from prison for the murder and sexual abuse of the adopted baby that he treated as a 'plaything', Preston Crown Court heard.
His partner McGowan-Fazakerley was also jailed for 25 years for allowing Preston's death after both were convicted by a jury on Monday (June 15) following an eight-week trial.
The court was played a police interview conducted with Varley where he reacted angrily on several occasions when accused of Preston's death.
Details of Abuse
During the four months Preston was under their adoption at their home in Blackpool, it is alleged he was routinely ill-treated, had indecent images and videos taken of him, was sexually abused and physically assaulted.
Varley said he had left the child alone in the bath for three or four minutes before he returned and the baby had drowned. But the post-mortem examination also found bruises to Preston's forehead, back of throat, mouth and bottom and bleeding in the lungs.
His cause of death was given as an upper airway obstruction, leading to his collapse by a deliberate act of smothering, or an object or objects inserted into his mouth.
Confrontation with Police
The officer asks Varley: 'How do you explain that level of bruising? How does he have so many bruises?'
'No comment,' Varley said.
'By prodding him? By poking him?' the officer continues.
'No,' the defendant said.
The officer adds: 'Preston lived for one year, one month and 11 days. He was only in your care just less than four months before he was killed. There is no evidence of natural disease. I'm going to suggest you have killed Preston.'
The defendant, raising his voice and clearly angry, replies: 'I have not done it. I will fight you 'til the day I die. I know you are wrong. I have not done it.'
Varley was also asked about intimate videos and photos of the child found on his phone, prosecutors allege are indecent images. He told the officers they were attempts at 'capturing' his child's life.
Angrily, the defendant told officers: 'Unlike you, I don't think about his genitals 24/7. You are making a mountain out of a molehill. It's totally innocent, it's ridiculous. You have got it now as if I'm a bloody pervert. That's your job I guess.'
Sentencing
Passing sentence Mr Justice Turner said Preston had faced 'unremitting abuse' and neglect before being killed by Varley during a sex attack.
Turning to Varley, 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.'
Varley, wearing a purple vee-neck T-shirt, looked gaunt and sat with hands folded on his lap looking straight ahead and made no reaction.
