The devastated grandmother of murdered baby Preston Davey believes social workers were so terrified of being branded homophobic they left the tot at the mercy of an abusive gay couple. The 13-month-old died in July 2023, just weeks after being handed to prospective adoptive parents Jamie Varley, 37, and his lover John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32. During his brief time with the evil pair the defenceless tot was physically, sexually and psychologically abused before eventually being suffocated by having an object thrust in his mouth.
Grandmother's Fury
Debbie Davey, Preston's maternal grandmother, told of her “hatred” of social workers who it is claimed missed eight vital opportunities to save the baby, and questioned whether fears of being accused of homophobia clouded social workers' judgment. She said: “I hate social services with a passion. What they did was disgusting. The social worker came to see me one day and said that she had just visited Preston. “She said he had been crying a bit, was a little weepy, but they [Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley] told her it was because he'd just had his injections. She just took their word for it. “Concerns had been flagged up at the hospital at least twice and nothing was done. He had been to hospital a good few times, and the hospital flagged it up and nobody went to see them to check on Preston. That is disgusting.”
Missed Opportunities
Baby Preston was taken to hospital three times before he was killed, and each time, medical staff noticed bruises on his body. On one occasion, a hospital safeguarding team referred the matter to Lancashire Constabulary, but the matter was closed when a consultant said there was nothing to worry about and the baby was discharged back into the hands of the seemingly respectable middle-class couple. A spokesman for the force said: “On 25th May 2023, Varley took Preston to Blackpool Victoria Hospital stating he had breathing difficulties and that he had suffered a seizure. They said a detective from the child protection team attended but – medical staff indicated there were no concerns around potential non-accidental injury. The spokesman added: “As a result, we did not see baby Preston, Jamie Varley or John McGowan-Fazakerley that day.” Social workers visited Preston at home several times before his death, but failed to notice that he was being mistreated and harmed. A post mortem examination subsequently identified more than 40 external and internal bruises, as well as injuries consistent with sexual assault.
Convictions
After a harrowing eight-week trial at Preston Crown Court, secondary school teacher Varley was found guilty of murder, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child, one of distributing an indecent photo of a child to his co-accused, and one of making an indecent photo. Finance company sales manager McGowan-Fazakerley was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.
Homophobia Concerns
Mrs Davey expressed her fury that the social worker involved in Preston's case “is still working”, adding: “I am fuming about that. She was supposed to be checking on Preston. I think it's terrible that she is still working and my baby is dead.” Speaking to The Telegraph she questioned whether fears of homophobia accusations preoccupied the social workers, saying: “Social services might have been hesitant to take action when they saw Preston because they may have been accused of being homophobic. “They didn't see through them and see what was going on to Preston. As soon as you see a baby with a broken arm, you ask questions.”
Council Response
A spokesman for Oldham council said: “The death of any child is a tragedy, but this is a particularly heart-wrenching and disturbing case. We are thankful that the perpetrators of the sickening murder and abuse of an innocent child have today been convicted for their crimes. An independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review is already underway, which will examine the handling of Preston's safeguarding. Our thoughts remain with Preston's family, loved ones, and the many people affected by this case.”
