A teacher has been found guilty of murdering the baby son he was in the process of adopting. His partner, a salesman, has been found guilty of allowing the little boy's death.
After a seven week trial at Preston Crown Court, the jury reached their verdicts in the trial of Jamie Varley, 37, and John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32. The couple were in the process of adopting Preston Davey when he collapsed at their home in Staining Road, Blackpool, while in the sole care of Varley.
The little boy, described as 'just beautiful' by his foster carers, was happy and healthy when he was placed in the care of the defendants when he was nine months old. He suffered a milk allergy and struggled with sleep but a pre-adoption medical said there were 'no major health concerns'. On April 3, 2023, Preston was placed in the care of the defendants, who had been approved to adopt after a training program with Adoption Now - the agency which manages adoptions for councils in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
Over the next four months, the jury found he was subjected to physical, sexual and psychological abuse at the hands of Varley, a former head of year at South Shore Academy, Blackpool. McGowan-Fazakerley knew about the risk posed to Preston and did nothing to stop his ill treatment - a failure which cost the baby his life.
He was taken to hospital on three separate occasions with breathing difficulties, seizures and an injury to his arm in the short time he spent in Blackpool. On July 27, 2023, Mr McGowan-Fazakerley arrived home from work at 6.15pm to find Preston seriously unwell and in need of urgent medical attention. By the time he was carried into the A&E department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, less than 10 minutes later, the 13-month-old was unresponsive and in cardiac arrest.
On arrival at hospital, Varley claimed Preston had fallen from a bath seat when he was left alone in the bath for a few minutes. But a postmortem found 40 non-accidental internal and external injuries to his head, face, leg, arm, bottom and pelvic organs. Dr Alison Armour, who conducted the examination said there were unequivocal signs he had been sexually abused in the hours before he died.
Varley was found guilty of murder, two counts of assault by penetration, four counts of cruelty, GBH and 14 charges relating to making and taking indecent images. McGowan-Fazakerley was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child, two counts of cruelty and sexual assault.
As the foreman delivered the verdicts Varley put his hand over his mouth and dropped to the floor and McGowan-Fazakerley stared straight ahead. Preston's birth mother sobbed in the public gallery and was consoled by her own mother, Preston's grandma.
