Twisted former schoolteacher Jamie Varley, 37, took a sick delight in tormenting his exhausted baby boy before suddenly screaming 'boo' to terrify him, weeks before murdering the helpless 13-month-old. Varley, a former head of year and design and technology technician, filmed the heartbreaking footage of Preston Davey just weeks before killing him.
Psychological torture detailed
Varley deliberately forced the clearly drained infant to stay awake by blasting the soundtrack to the Disney film Moana and keeping bright lights on. He waited until the little boy began to drift off before shouting at him, according to evidence presented in court. The chilling incident has been highlighted by experts as a textbook example of the psychological 'Dark Triad' — combining psychopathy, Machiavellianism and narcissism.
Whole-life order for murder
Varley was recently handed a whole-life order at Preston Crown Court for the systematic torture, sexual abuse and murder of the defenceless youngster, meaning he will die behind bars. He is one of only around 70 prisoners in the UK who will never be released. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was also jailed for his role in the abuse.
Research on cruelty
A 2013 University of British Columbia study into human cruelty noted that some individuals experience a perverse motivation to inflict pain on others. Discussing participants who went out of their way to punish rivals with loud noises, the research said: 'There wasn't just a willingness to do it but a motivation to enjoy, to put in some extra effort to have the opportunity to hurt other individuals.' This 'callous insensitivity' and 'coolly manipulative' mindset defined Varley's actions in the weeks leading up to the murder.
Missed warning signs
The wider tragedy has raised urgent questions over the role of social workers and medical professionals. Preston had been rushed to hospital three times prior to his death with severe injuries, including a fractured elbow and multiple bruises. Varley managed to easily explain away the warning signs, sparking concerns that hospital staff may have been reluctant to intervene due to a fear of being accused of homophobia.
The final abuse
The abuse culminated on July 27, 2023. Varley sexually assaulted the baby twice before smothering him. When doctors challenged his claims that Preston had accidentally drowned in the bath, a post-mortem confirmed there was no water in the child's lungs. Instead, pathologists discovered more than 30 visible bruises, internal injuries and a human bite mark on his bottom.
Deceptive persona
To neighbours and colleagues, Varley and his partner appeared to live an 'Instagram-perfect' life at their home in Blackpool. Varley even worked as a safeguarding lead at South Shore Academy. However, a dark past lay hidden beneath the respectable veneer. Former neighbours from a previous address in Blackpool described Varley's family as a 'nightmare,' recalling how he targeted local children. One ex-neighbour said: 'He started shouting nasty abuse and ended up throwing lit cigarettes at their toys, trying to set them on fire. How on earth he got to be a secondary school teacher, I really don't know.'
Work colleagues also recalled Varley's narcissistic tendency to overshare bizarre personal details, including an occasion where he missed work after falling from a drainpipe while spying on an ex-boyfriend he suspected of cheating.
Premeditated abuse
Preston was formally placed with the couple on March 31, 2023, but their picture-perfect family dynamic was nothing but a calculated charade. Reflecting on Varley's deceptive persona, criminologist David Wilson said: 'Varley was a very skilled manipulator of a narrative. He was very cunning. He knew how to cover up. He knew how to hide.' Sentencing him, Mr Justice Turner said he could not rule out 'the possibility' that Preston's horrific abuse was 'premeditated from the moment of adoption.'
