A former work colleague and friend of Jamie Varley, the man serving a whole-life sentence for the abuse and murder of 13-month-old Preston Davey, has shared a disturbing story about the killer, including allegations that he spied on a former boyfriend.
Elaine, who worked in the same high school as Preston Davey's adoptive dad, has known Varley for about 14 years. She said drama always followed him around. Despite being disgusted by his crimes, Elaine has been unfairly abused since his conviction for once being associated with him.
Chilling phone call
During an emotional hour-long discussion on the Break The Ice channel, Elaine spoke about a phone call she received from Varley. She said: 'I remember him ringing me up once and I said to him, “I can’t get involved in this”.'
She explained that Varley had climbed up an ex-boyfriend's drain pipe, claiming he was spying on him through the window. The drain pipe fell off, and Varley broke his back. According to Elaine, Varley told her his stepdad would pick him up, but he asked her to tell colleagues at the high school that he had been 'beaten up on a field' instead of the truth.
Elaine recalled: 'I can’t be saying that, we work for a school. I said, “And I used to work for the police, I can’t be doing that.” And so he rang another friend and she went and supported him in hospital but he didn’t tell her the truth as to what he done.'
Friendship and behaviour
Elaine first met Varley when she worked as a school PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) while he was a technician. He later became a teacher at the school, while Elaine took up a non-teaching role as head of Year 11.
Speaking about what he was like, she said: 'He was that annoying friend that I would roll my eyes at things. You know, about his behaviour and things. But that was just what he was like, that annoying friend. You didn’t expect this to be the outcome… it has been absolutely horrendous.'
She added: 'I’ll give you an example, over the years, never once has he ever rang me up and asked if I’m ok. He was that kind of friend. It was always about him.'
Elaine and Varley were in a friendship group of six people who used to socialise together. She described Varley as being like 'one of the girls' but said he was incredibly self-absorbed and would turn up at her home unannounced before outstaying his welcome.
Crime and aftermath
Varley is serving a whole-life sentence for suffocating Preston, who was just 13 months old, to death. He had adopted him just four months prior to the killing. The tragic tot was found with 40 internal and external injuries.
Varley's boyfriend, John McGowan-Fazakerley, who lived with him in Blackpool, Lancashire, was handed a 25-year sentence for his role in the abuse, including one count of sexual assault of a child.
Reacting to the crime, Elaine said: 'Did I ever think he was capable of that? No. Do I think he is an absolute a***hole? Yes. Do I think lots of different things? Yes. But did I think he was capable of that? No because your brain doesn’t go there.'
Since his conviction, Elaine and others associated with Varley have been targeted. She said: 'It has been really really difficult for family and friends who have been associated with him. It just feels like people are targeting like family and friends unjustifiably for things that we haven’t done, for things they’ve done.'
She added that she was speaking on Break The Ice to have the conversation about Varley once, before moving on with her life.
