The heartbroken mother of Preston Davey gave a written statement in court, telling of her love for her 'beautiful blue eyed boy' whose life was tragically cut short. Sarah Davey wept in the courtroom as her victim impact statement was read aloud, which told of her torment at imagining the torture her baby boy went through in the final four months of his short life.
The Tragic Story of Preston Davey
Preston died at just 13 months having suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of his adoptive parents, who have today been jailed for his horror murder. He ended up in the care of the evil pair after being taken from his birth mother, who, aged 14, was jailed for the murder of a frail pensioner. Five days after he was born, Preston was removed from his mother under an emergency care order obtained by Oldham Council. He was then put into foster care, where he thrived - right up until he was adopted by monsters Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley. Once taken by them he lived just a further four months.
Background of Sarah Davey
Sarah was jailed as a teen for the murder of widow Lily Lilley in 1998. She was just 14 when she was ordered to serve a minimum of eight years and one day. Davey and her 15-year-old friend, Lisa Healey, had befriended the 71-year-old widow at local shops. She invited them into her home for a cup of tea - and the pair set upon her. They brutally tortured Lily by squirting shampoo in her eyes, cutting her with a knife and tying a gag round her mouth so tightly that her dentures were forced down her throat, choking her to death. They then crammed her body into a bin and walked it through the streets before throwing it in the Rochdale Canal. Having returned to Lily's home, they used her money to buy crisps and chocolate, and made hundreds of calls from her phone.
She was caught by police and jailed for the murder but has been let out on seven occasions since, starting in 2013. But she has repeatedly breached her conditions for the original murder, and ended up back behind bars each time. During one of her stints out of prison, Davey started a relationship with Gary Nolan and had a daughter. They conceived a second child, and gave birth to Preston on June 16, 2022 at Wythenshawe Hospital. His birth certificate listed Davey's address as the mother and baby unit at Styal women's prison in Cheshire and her occupation as hairdresser.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
She was released on licence in March 2024 - nine months after her son was murdered - following a decision by the parole board. Davey was a frequent presence at the trial of Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley but struggled listening to the most gruesome parts of the evidence. As the guilty verdicts were read out, she sobbed uncontrollably in the public gallery, comforted by her mother, Debra Davey.
Today, Varley was sentenced to a whole life order for the murder and sexual abuse of Preston. 'This is a case of extreme gravity ... you will never be eligible for parole,' judge Mr Justice Turner said. His ex-partner McGowan-Fazakerley was sentenced to 25 years for sexual assault and allowing Preston's death.
Victim Impact Statement
In her statement she said of Preston: 'The second he was placed in my arms, I fell completely in love with him. He was my baby, my only son, and from that day on I never wanted to let him go. For the first seven months of his life, I was lucky enough to spend precious time with him. He had the most beautiful smile, one that could light up any room, and the bond we shared was something everyone could see.'
Addressing his tormentors, she wrote: 'Those memories should have brought me comfort - but instead, they are now mixed with pain, because I know what you put him through in his final months. The day he was taken from me was one of the worst days of my life. I had no choice in that decision. I tried to take some comfort in believing he would be safe, loved, and protected, and he was with his foster parents, Sandra and Paul, I trusted them, they and the system trusted you, that trust was completely and unforgivably broken.'
'Preston was innocent. He was defenceless. He relied entirely on you - the adults responsible for him - to love him, care for him, and keep him safe. Instead, you caused him suffering. You took away his chance to grow up, to go to school, to make friends, to live a full life. You took everything from him.'
Upon learning the jury's guilty verdict, Varley was sick as the charges of murder, cruelty, GBH and sexual abuse came back as guilty. McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was found guilty of sexual assault, child cruelty and allowing the death of a child.
Sentencing Varley on Thursday to a full life sentence, Mr Justice Turner said: 'Preston Davey was 13 months old when he was murdered by you, Jamie Varley. Over the previous four months you and John McGowan-Fazakerley had been responsible for his care. Three days ago following a trial that had listed for over six weeks, you were both convicted unanimously. It now falls to me to sentence you.'
