A secondary school teacher has been handed a whole-life order for sexually abusing and murdering the 13-month-old baby he was in the process of adopting. Jamie Varley, 37, a former head of year at Blackpool’s South Shore Academy, was sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Thursday and will never be eligible for parole. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, a sales manager for an asset finance company, was jailed for 25 years for sexual abuse, child cruelty and allowing the death of a child.
The baby, Preston Davey, was subjected to what the prosecution described as “unremitting abuse” over the four months he spent in the couple’s care at their home in Staining, near Blackpool. Prosecutor Peter Wright KC told the court that Preston was treated as a “plaything” and was “routinely ill-treated, sexually abused and physically assaulted”. A post-mortem examination revealed approximately 40 traumatic injuries, including 30 external bruises, a fracture to his upper left arm, and internal bruising to his throat, bottom and bladder. A human bite mark was identified on the baby’s bottom, dating back to about six weeks before his death.
The final hours and cause of death
On 27 July 2023, Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley took an unresponsive Preston to hospital, where medics worked for 50 minutes to try to revive him. Varley told medics he had left the baby in the bath for a couple of minutes and returned to find him submerged. But a pathologist ruled out drowning: Preston’s hair was dry, he was wearing a nappy, and there was no evidence he had swallowed water. The cause of death was given as acute upper airways obstruction, likely caused by smothering or an object or objects being inserted into the baby’s mouth. Injuries to Preston’s pelvic organs were described as unnatural and were likely inflicted within hours of his death.
Varley’s behaviour at the hospital was described by one senior doctor as a “performance” unlike anything she had seen before. The judge, Mr Justice Turner, noted that Varley, described in court as overly dramatic by nature, gave the appearance of a grieving parent while the evidence pointed to sustained and calculated cruelty.
During the eight-week trial, the jury was shown disturbing images and videos recovered from Varley’s phone. One video showed Preston struggling to breathe and in distress; another captured the baby in a dangerous position in his cot, his neck pressed against the railing in a way that could have obstructed his airway. A further video showed Preston in a bath, his face red and eyes glazed — described by a pathologist as a “life-threatening, emergency, near-miss position”. The evidence, the prosecution argued, demonstrated that Varley had been physically, psychologically and sexually abusing the child over an extended period.
Safeguarding failures and missed opportunities
The case has raised profound questions about whether authorities missed chances to save Preston. In the weeks leading up to his death, Preston was seen by a “battery of professionals”, including social workers, doctors and nurses. He was taken to hospital three times by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley — once with a broken arm — and each time was returned to their care. Explanations for the injuries, provided by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley, were accepted. On one occasion, hospital safeguarding staff contacted the police, but officers did not see Preston because no concerns about non-accidental injury were raised at that time.
A social worker visited the home about 20 days before Preston died. The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, described the case as a “massive safeguarding failure”. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme before the sentencing, she questioned whether professionals had been “hoodwinked” by Varley’s profession as a teacher. “Did that evil abuser hoodwink people under that professional guise?” she asked. “I want to know whether the correct level of professional curiosity was there. I have huge numbers of questions and I’m not going to let go until I have the answers.” Dame Rachel later called for the establishment of a Child Protection Authority, saying the case represented “a failure of the state and the safeguarding system”.
An independent child safeguarding practice review, launched by Oldham Council after Preston’s death, was paused during the criminal proceedings and has now resumed. The review will examine the handling of Preston’s safeguarding and the involvement of all agencies responsible for his welfare. The NSPCC said important lessons must be learned and that the review must establish whether more could have been done to prevent Preston’s death.
Preston’s short life and family background
Preston Davey was born four weeks early, weighing 5lb 7oz. His biological mother, Sarah Davey, was serving a life sentence for a murder she committed as a teenager alongside a friend: the killing of a pensioner who had befriended them. Sarah Davey was on the mother-and-baby unit at HMP Styal when Preston was born. Five days after his birth, he was taken into emergency care by Oldham Council under an interim care order.
Preston spent his first nine months with experienced foster parents, Sandra and Paul Cooper, where he was described as a happy, bubbly and thriving baby. The adoption by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley was approved in March 2023. Preston moved into their home when he was nine months old. Four months later, he was dead.
Speaking from the witness box, Sandra Cooper said the couple often watched videos of Preston from his time with them. “Preston’s face would light up when we looked at him,” she said. “He was joyful, so content and happy, with sparkly smiling eyes. That is how we want to remember him.” She added that they now feel “mistrustful and anxious” about children leaving their care.
Preston’s maternal grandmother, Debbie Davey, from Oldham, said she had wanted to care for the baby but was unable to because she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. His biological father was named as Gary Nolan.
In a victim impact statement read out by a barrister, Sarah Davey said Preston’s death “should never have been allowed to happen” and that she carried “grief, guilt and heartbreak” every day. “He was defenceless,” the statement read. “He relied entirely on you – the adults responsible for him – to love him, care for him, and keep him safe. Instead, you caused him suffering. You took away his chance to grow up, to go to school, to make friends, to live a full life. You took everything from him.” Sarah Davey, sitting in the public gallery, sobbed uncontrollably as the words were read. She was released on licence in March 2024.
Police and official response
Speaking on the steps of Preston Crown Court after the sentencing, the senior investigating officer DCI Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Police, described Varley as “evil” and “monstrous”. He said the investigation had been one of the most challenging his team had ever undertaken, calling it “an extreme example of sordid and wicked behaviour by completely remorseless human beings. It is a case that truly shocked a nation.”
The NSPCC said a review must establish whether more could have been done, and emphasised that everyone has a role in protecting children. “By asking questions – sometimes difficult ones – and by sharing information or concerns with someone who can help, we can create a safer environment for children to grow up in and help ensure that no child falls through the gaps,” a spokesperson said.
