Jamie Varley, a 37-year-old teacher from Blackpool, has been handed a whole-life order for the murder and sexual abuse of his adopted 13-month-old son, Preston Davey. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was jailed for 25 years for allowing Preston's death, child cruelty, and sexual assault.
Vile Text Message Revealed in Court
During the trial at Preston Crown Court, jurors heard that Varley sent a text message to McGowan-Fazakerley just weeks before Preston died, stating: “Your son’s in hospital, I strangled him.” He followed up with, “Jokes, just give me a call when done.” The message was sent on July 8, 2023, after Preston had been admitted to hospital with a fractured elbow.
Preston died on July 27, 2023, after suffering a cardiac arrest. An autopsy revealed he had sustained 40 separate injuries, including internal and external trauma. Experts concluded his death was caused by an acute obstruction of the upper airway, consistent with smothering or forcing an object into his mouth.
Pattern of Abuse
The couple adopted Preston in April 2023. Within days, Varley expressed frustration over the baby’s sleep patterns. In a text to his sister, a baby sleep trainer, he wrote: “He’s dead meat today. Didn’t sleep last night after 11.30. Up every, one and a half hours.”
On April 10, Varley sent his mother a video of Preston in a walker, commenting: “This was before he was murdered and put to bed.” He also texted a friend: “First sleep over. I wanted to put him in the field with the cows,” but later described Preston as a “ray of sunshine.” In other messages, he called the baby “annoying” and said they were “really struggling” with the lack of sleep.
Previous Good Health
Preston’s former foster carer, Sandra Cooper, described him as a “very happy” baby during the 10 months she cared for him after his birth in June 2022. After moving in with Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley, Preston was taken to hospital three times, including for the elbow fracture.
On the day of his death, Varley claimed he had left Preston alone in the bath briefly and returned to find him drowning. However, medical evidence contradicted this, showing non-accidental injuries. Varley was convicted of murder, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of child cruelty, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, and multiple indecent image offences. McGowan-Fazakerley was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty, and sexual assault of a child.
Sentencing
Judge Mr. Justice Pepperall imposed a whole-life order on Varley, meaning he will never be released. McGowan-Fazakerley was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The judge described the crimes as “depraved” and “utterly unforgivable.”
