Jamie Varley, the 37-year-old convicted of sexually abusing and murdering his adopted baby son Preston Davey, is now serving a whole-life order at HMP Wakefield, a Category A prison known as 'Monster Mansion'. Former prisoners report that Varley is confined to his cell under 24-hour surveillance and suicide watch, as fellow inmates have vowed retribution. On his first night, he was left 'sobbing and quaking' while cons hammered on bars.
Violent Hierarchy and Recent Deaths
Within Wakefield, inmates who commit crimes against children occupy the lowest rung and are often violently targeted. In the past year, two child abusers were killed: Kyle Bevan, stabbed 25 times in his cell, and Ian Watkins, fatally stabbed. The prison holds approximately 600 to 750 male prisoners, with around 77% classified as vulnerable prisoners (VPs), yet VPs are not separated from others, according to prosecutor Jason Pitter.
Kyle Bevan's Murder
Bevan, 33, was serving a life sentence for murdering two-year-old Lola James in 2020. On November 4, 2025, three inmates—Mark Fellows, 45, David Taylor, 64, and Lee Newell, 57—followed Bevan into his cell, emerging after four minutes and 39 seconds. Bevan was found 'tucked up in bed' with 25 stab wounds. The killers were convicted, with the judge noting they targeted Bevan because of his child murder conviction. Newell had previously received a whole-life order for killing a prisoner who murdered a child, while Fellows was given a whole-life term for gangland murders. Taylor received a whole-life order for Bevan's murder, plus additional sentences for murder and attempted murder.
Ian Watkins' Death
Ian Watkins, former singer of the band Lostprophets, was serving 29 years for child sex offences, including attempted rape of a baby. He was stabbed to death in Wakefield in October 2025. Rico Gedel and Samuel Dodsworth were charged with his murder, but the trial collapsed in May 2026; a retrial is scheduled for February 2027. Watkins had faced threats and attacks since his arrival in 2013, including a 2023 stabbing by three inmates. A former inmate described him as a 'self centred loner' who never showed remorse.
Historical Cases
In 1978, Robert Maudsley killed William Roberts, who was serving time for attempting to strangle and rape a four-year-old girl. Maudsley entered Roberts' cell, stabbed him, and then reported the death. Stephen Beadman, 35, serving 35 years for the rape and murder of schoolgirl Kayleigh Haywood, was found hanged in his cell in April 2021 after being bullied due to his crimes. Robin Crago, labeled a 'dangerous sexual predator', died from kidney failure while serving a life sentence. David Charles Zold, imprisoned for child abuse, died at age 72 in March 2023.
Expert Insight
Steve Gallant, a convicted murderer who spent 16 years in prison and later received a Gallantry Medal, told The Mirror: 'These wings are full of people with very predatorial tendencies... Varley is going to be very, very vulnerable, even on the VP unit, because of what he did to that child.' He added that targeting is likely inevitable.
Other Attacks
Notorious child sex offenders Roy Whiting, who killed Sarah Payne, and Mark Bridger, who murdered April Jones, have also been violently attacked in Wakefield.
