WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT - Born to murderer Sarah Davey, little Preston was removed from her care only to be placed in the hands of depraved Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley before his death at 13 months
12:55, 18 Jun 2026 Updated 14:29, 18 Jun 2026
Preston Davey: Lancashire Police release interview and arrest footage
Little Preston Davey's short life was steeped in horror. The baby died at just 13 months having suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of his adoptive parents . He had ended up in the care of the evil pair after being taken from his birth mother, who, at 14, was jailed for the horrific murder of a frail pensioner.
Five days after he was born, Preston was removed from Sarah Davey under an emergency care order obtained by Oldham Council. He was then put into foster care, where he thrived - right up until he was adopted by Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley.
In the four months the tot was with them, he was routinely sexually abused and physically assaulted, suffering 40 traumatic injuries. He also had indecent images and videos taken of him. The little boy died in July 2023, at the hands of 37-year-old Varley.
His biological mother Davey had previously received a mandatory life sentence for murder in July 1999 . She was just 14 when she was ordered to serve a minimum of eight years and one day for the horrific murder of widow, Lily Lilley, in Failsworth, Oldham in September 1998. Davey and her 15-year-old friend, Lisa Healey, had befriended the 71-year-old widow at local shops.
She invited them into her home for a cup of tea - and the pair set upon her. They brutally tortured Lily by squirting shampoo in her eyes, cutting her with a knife and tying a gag round her mouth so tightly that her dentures were forced down her throat, choking her to death. A framed photo of her son as a baby was thrown into the bin.
They then crammed her body into a bin and walked it through the streets before throwing it in the Rochdale Canal. Having returned to Lily's home, they used her money to buy crisps and chocolate, and made hundreds of calls from her phone.
Davey was jailed indefinitely for the "unspeakably wicked" murder but has been let out on seven occasions since, starting in 2013, but repeatedly breached her conditions for the original murder.
She was first released in March 2013, 14 years into her sentence, and reportedly lived in a flat in Crumpsall, Manchester . She is said to have shared details of her new life and partying on Facebook but was soon recalled to prison for breaching her licence. She was released another six times until November 2021, but always ended up being recalled.
It was while out on licence that she started a relationship with Gary Nolan and had a daughter. They conceived a second child, and in a selfie uploaded to her Facebook page that August, Sarah added the caption: "I love my family". She gave birth to Preston on June 16, 2022 at Wythenshawe Hospital. According to our sister paper the Manchester Evening News, his birth certificate listed Davey's address as the mother and baby unit at Styal women's prison in Cheshire and her occupation as hairdresser.
She was released on licence in March 2024 - nine months after her son was murdered - following a decision by the parole board. Parole Board documents said: "She has been released on licence on seven occasions since her first such release in March 2013. Each of those licences has been revoked and she has been recalled to prison."
Now aged 43, on her Facebook page, she describes herself as a 'full-time mummy'. Her bio reads: "What goes around comes around!!! My beautiful princess, my daughter, my world ."
Heartbroken Davey was a frequent presence at the trial of Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley and was seen walking out of court during the most distressing parts, with police officers supporting her. As the guilty verdicts were read out, she sobbed uncontrollably in the public gallery, comforted by her mother, Debra Davey.
Today, Varley was sentenced to a whole life order for the murder and sexual abuse of Preston. "This is a case of extreme gravity ... you will never be eligible for parole," judge Mr Justice Turner said. His ex-partner McGowan-Fazakerley was sentenced to for 25 years for sexual assault and allowing Preston's death.
At today's hearing, Davey wept as her victim impact statement was read out, paying tribute to her 'beautiful blue-eyed boy'. "The second he was placed in my arms, I fell completely in love with him. He was my baby, my only son, and from that day on I never wanted to let him go," she said. "For the first seven months of his life, I was lucky enough to spend precious time with him. He had the most beautiful smile, one that could light up any room, and the bond we shared was something everyone could see."
Addressing his tormentors, she wrote: "Those memories should have brought me comfort - but instead, they are now mixed with pain, because I know what you put him thr…
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