âT hey were an ordinary couple,â said one neighbour. Their baby âwas happy, he was smiley, he was beautiful,â said a friend. There were nobig concerns about the teacher and the sales manager who were doing what thousands do every year â adopting a child.
In reality, Jamie Varley and his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, were child abusers and Varley murdered the baby boy they adopted, Preston Davey, when he was 13 months old.
Prestonâs start in life was difficult. His mother was Sarah Davey who, it can now be reported, was jailed as a child for murdering a 71-year-old woman.
He was placed with foster carers when he was just five days old and at the age of nine months he began living with Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley. Over four months he was âroutinely ill-treated, sexually abused and physically assaulted,â the prosecutor Peter Wright KC told a trial at Preston crown court.
On 27 July 2023 the baby was taken to hospital after Varley said there was an accident in the bath. He died soon after.
No evidence was found to support Varleyâs account but a postmortem did find 40 external and internal trauma injuries to Preston consistent with âforcible penetrationâ and sexual abuse.
Varley, described by one police officer as an âarrogant, self-centred liarâ, had a sexual interest in the baby, using Preston for his own gratification which led to murder, a jury decided.
Wright suggested to Varley he had used Preston as a âplaythingâ and routinely abused him âfor your own amusement and gratificationâ.
Jamie Varley. Photograph: Lancashire Constabulary Jurors at the eight-week trial heard and viewed horrific, distressing evidence of the two menâs crimes, which raise wider questions about local authority adoption processes across the UK.
Varley, 37, was a teacher at South Shore academy in Blackpool. He started as a technician in the design and technology department and by 2023 he was a qualified teacher, promoted to head of year.
McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was northern sales manager for an asset finance company who regularly commuted to Manchester. âI lived on the M6,â he said. They lived in a semi-detached house in Staining, a village just outside Blackpool.
Varley told the court he had dreamed of having children. From a young age he wanted to be âa teacher, a daddy with a Jeep who lived on a farmâ.
As a gay man he âjust never thought it was a possibilityâ. He told jurors: âI never thought I would find someone to be in a relationship with that would be stable enough to have kids.â
That changed when he met McGowan-Fazakerley who pretty much moved in with Varley from day one of their relationship, the court heard. âMy whole life just changed when I met John,â Varley said.
They earned similar salaries, the trial heard, but because McGowan-Fazakerley could get bonuses, friends were told it made more sense for Varley to take a year off work to bring up any baby they adopted.
Varley was described in court as outgoing, sassy, theatrical and something of a âdrama queenâ. McGowan-Fazakerley was more quiet and reserved.
The couple began the adoption process during the Covid pandemic in December 2021 and completed the first stage in March 2022. Because Varley was a teacher and there were GCSEs coming up, the couple delayed the second stage by six months.
Stage two began in September 2022 and they were approved by an adoption panel in January 2023.
The baby allocated to the couple was Preston, who had been fostered from the age of five days by Sandra and Paul Cooper who had fostered many newborn babies over the course of 24 years.
They had Preston for nine months and he was, Sandra Cooper said, âa very happy babyâ.
Preston Davey. Photograph: Lancashire Constabulary McGowan-Fazakerley had no experience of babies but Varley babysat nieces, nephews and the children of friends many times. âI felt it was going to be a breeze,â he told the court. âBut it wasnât.â
Preston was not a good sleeper. â Sometimes he would be up 10 times in a night,â Sandra Cooper said. But all he needed was âsoothing by having his head strokedâ.
There was a gradual familiarisation with the adoptive parents before Preston moved into Varley and McGowan-Fazakerleyâs home on 3 April 2023.
From the start, the couple struggled. The trial saw details of dozens of messages to and from Varley. Many were the message of any new parent: âexhaustingâ; ânot having a decent nightâs sleepâ; âweâve just been cleaning up projectile vomitâ.
Others were more worrying: âwe are strugglingâ; âwe are questioning every choiceâ; âheâs just annoyingâ; âheâs very needy, screams all the time like heâs being killedâ.
On 6 April, Varley texted his sister, a baby sleep trainer: âHeâs dead meat today. Didnât sleep last night after 11.30. Up every one and a half hours.â
Varley, by his own admission, was prolific in taking photographs and videos of Preston.
Many were innocuous, like one of Preston in his baby bouncer listening to Wheels on the Bus on the TV.
But others were disturbing and used as eâŠ
Read the full article at The Guardian (UK) âđSource document: Blackpool Victoria Hospital records
11 reports
Daily MailIndependentCenter2 days agoThe article discusses the case of Preston Davey, a 13-month-old boy who was sexually abused and murdered by his adoptive fathers, Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley. Both men received severe sentences for their crimes. The article highlights that Preston had been taken to the hospital multiple times due to injuries, but these concerns were dismissed or ignored by medical professionals.
Bias read (Center): The article presents facts about the crime, the perpetrators, and the failures in the healthcare system without overtly favoring any political perspective. The tone is emotionally charged but does not exhibit clear ideological bias in its framing or sourcing.
Official sources cited
- organisation Blackpool Victoria Hospital records
- organisation Court sentencing details
Daily MailIndependentCenter3 days ago The happy and playful baby boy who never stood a chance: Heartbreaking videos show giggling Preston Davey months before he was abused and murdered at hands of adoptive fatherHeartbreaking videos show Preston Davey, a young child, playing happily with his foster father before being placed with adoptive parents Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley, who later sexually abused, tortured, and murdered him. A video released by Lancashire Police depicts Preston's joyful moments with his foster father, followed by a disturbing clip showing him being kept awake by Varley, leading to his eventual death.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information based on police-released footage and court proceedings without overtly favoring any political perspective. It focuses on the criminal actions of individuals rather than political issues, making it politically neutral.
Official sources cited
- government Lancashire Police
The IndependentIndependentCenter3 days agoA high school teacher, Jamie Varley, was sentenced to a whole life order for murdering his adopted infant son, Preston Davey, after sexually and physically abusing him. The abuse went unnoticed despite multiple medical visits, and Varley's professional demeanor contributed to the failure to recognize the harm. The court noted Varley's resentment toward Preston for disrupting his sleep and affecting his relationship with his partner.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about a criminal case without overtly favoring any political perspective. It focuses on legal proceedings and judicial findings rather than engaging in ideological commentary.
Official sources cited
- court Court ruling by Mr Justice Turner
The Guardian (UK)IndependentCenter5 days agoThe article details the case of Jamie Varley, who along with his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, abused and murdered their adopted infant son, Preston Davey. The article describes how Preston was placed with foster care at a young age and later lived with Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley, where he suffered severe physical and sexual abuse over several months. Varley claimed the child died in a bath accident, but a post-mortem revealed extensive injuries consistent with sexual abuse. A jury concluded that Varley used Preston for his own gratification, leading to the murder.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information based on legal proceedings, including quotes from prosecutors and descriptions of the crime without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It does not appear to favor any particular side in the narrative, focusing on the events and judicial findings.
Daily MirrorParty-alignedCenter6 days agoJohn McGowan-Fazakerley and Jamie Varley were found guilty of multiple charges related to the death and abuse of their adopted infant son, Preston Davey. The article details the legal proceedings and the disturbing nature of the case, including the couple's conflicting testimonies and the severe charges brought against them.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a criminal trial involving serious charges of abuse and murder. It presents factual information about the convictions and does not exhibit clear bias in framing, language, or sourcing. The content focuses on the legal outcome and the severity of the crimes without overtly slan
Daily MirrorParty-alignedCenter6 days ago Mum of murdered Preston Davey, one, was one of 'most notorious killers' as gran left 'hysterical' after deathThe article discusses the background of Sarah Davey, mother of murdered infant Preston Davey, revealing that she was involved in the brutal killing of her grandmother, Lily Lilley, when she was 14 years old. Details include how Sarah and her accomplice tortured Lily, dumped her body in a canal, and later lived off her pension funds. Jamie Varley has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Preston.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about past criminal activity without overtly favoring any side. It reports on historical events and legal outcomes without using emotionally charged language or omitting key perspectives.
BBC News (World)State / PublicCenter9 days agoA French town has buried an 11-year-old girl who was murdered, with growing concerns about potential police failures. The prime suspect in her death was reportedly known to authorities nine months before the incident but was never questioned.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or emphasis. It reports on the circumstances surrounding the murder and raises questions about police actions without taking a clear stance or using loaded terms.
Daily MirrorParty-alignedCenter12 days ago Mum killed son, 8, by poisoning his juice in 'failed murder-suicide attempt', court hearsLouise Cameron, 41, is accused of murdering her eight-year-old son, Rhys, by poisoning his blackcurrant juice with morphine. Family members discovered Rhys dead at their home in Stockton-on-Tees last September. Cameron allegedly attempted suicide after the incident and wrote a note stating she would not die without her son. She was found 'groggy' and was taken to the hospital, where she reportedly admitted to police that she had intended to take her own life but did not want to leave her son behind. Cameron has been charged with murder but was deemed unfit to stand trial, with jurors now setto
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual details of a criminal case without apparent ideological framing. It reports on legal proceedings and quotes from court testimony without showing clear bias toward any side.
Daily MailIndependentCenter12 days ago Baby 'murdered' by teacher died from 'final act in a litany of psychological and sexual ill-treatment', court hearsA baby boy, Preston Davey, allegedly murdered by a teacher, died from what prosecutors described as the 'final act in a litany of psychological and sexual ill-treatment,' according to court proceedings. Jamie Varley, a secondary school teacher, and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley are on trial for the infant's death. Both men deny the charges. The prosecution claims Preston's death was the result of abuse and neglect, citing medical evidence and the circumstances surrounding his death.
Bias read (Center): The article presents information from the prosecution's perspective without overtly favoring either side. It includes direct quotes from the prosecutor and details of the legal proceedings, but does not exhibit clear bias toward the defendants or the prosecution. The language used is largely factual
Official sources cited
- government Prosecutor Peter Wright KC's statement
The IndependentIndependentCenter13 days ago Two arrested on suspicion of murder after 12-year-old boy hit by vehicle in EssexTwo individuals have been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a 12-year-old boy who was struck by a vehicle on Ashwells Road in Pilgrims Hatch, Essex. The boy was hospitalized with severe injuries and later died. A 15-year-old boy and a 43-year-old man were arrested and are currently in police custody. Authorities have emphasized the need to respect the victim's family's privacy during the ongoing investigation.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without apparent ideological framing. It focuses on the event itself, the arrests, and the police response, using neutral language and avoiding any overtly biased commentary or emphasis on political aspects.
Official sources cited
- government Essex Police statement
- government Chief Inspector Terry Fisher
- government Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe
BBC News (UK)State / PublicCenter13 days ago Abuse survivor's fury at mum's early jail releaseCaroline Eshghi, a survivor of childhood abuse by her mother Melanie Burmingham, expressed outrage after Burmingham was released from prison after serving only eight months of a 20-month sentence. Eshghi described the abuse she endured over 12 years, including physical violence and psychological trauma, and called for changes to sentencing guidelines to ensure justice for historical abuse survivors.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the survivor's account of abuse and her reaction to the sentencing without overtly favoring any side. It includes direct quotes from Eshghi and mentions the court's description of the abuse but does not editorialize or present biased language. The focus is on the personal impact
Official sources cited
- court Court ruling on Melanie Burmingham's sentence
United Kingdom