Jamie Varley, the paedophile who murdered his adopted baby son Preston Davey, will spend the rest of his life in prison. Behind a facade of respectability, jurors saw a 'wicked and arrogant' killer whose cruel nature reportedly emerged in childhood.
The Crime
Varley, a teacher, and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley adopted Preston when he was nine months old. In four short months, they subjected him to horrific abuse. On July 27, 2023, Varley filmed Preston in respiratory distress for 35 minutes before seeking help. Preston died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. A post-mortem found 40 injuries, many consistent with sexual abuse. Varley received a rare whole life order; McGowan-Fazakerley was jailed for 25 years.
Childhood and Early Signs
Newark-born Varley was the second of six children. A former neighbour described his family as 'a nightmare' and Varley as 'horrible'. She reported him for anti-social behaviour after he put a potato in her car exhaust. Despite this, Varley had no prior criminal convictions.
Professional Facade
Varley worked as a teacher and head of year at South Shore Academy. He and McGowan-Fazakerley presented an 'Instagram-ready' image of perfection. Detective Chief Inspector Andy Fallows said: 'Everything was for show. If you scratched away that veneer, the reality was far removed.'
The Abuse
Varley took photos of Preston in dangerous positions and kept him awake intentionally. Text messages revealed his resentment: 'He's dead meat today.' McGowan-Fazakerley, who worked long hours, claimed ignorance but police said he 'must have known' about the abuse.
Courtroom Behavior
At sentencing, Varley remained stony-faced, only stumbling as he left the dock. Earlier, he had thrown himself to the floor at the hospital, begging officers to kill him. Fallows called his behavior 'almost like a pantomime'.
Victim Impact
Preston's birth mother, Sarah Davey, wept as her statement was read: 'You took everything from him.' His father, Gary Nolan, was hospitalised after learning of the murder. Foster mother Sandra Cooper said: 'We continue to foster in Preston's memory.'
