Foster carer’s ‘intestine feeling’ about ‘comfortable and wonderful child’ earlier than horror dying
Foster carer Sandra Cooper told a murder trial she was ‘really worried’ after handing Preston Davey over to his adoptive dads, Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazackerley
Preston Davey
A foster mum who looked after a baby before he was adopted by a couple expressed her deep concern for his welfare once he left her care, a court has heard. Preston Davey, aged 13 months, tragically died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital after sustaining around 40 internal and external injuries while under the care of Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazackerley, it is alleged by prosecutors.
Mr Varley, 37, stands accused of murdering the child. His partner, Mr McGowan-Fazackerley, 32, is charged with allowing the young boy’s death. Both men deny these allegations as well as additional charges of cruelty and sexual abuse.
On Wednesday (April 22), a jury at Preston Crown Court heard from foster carer Sandra Cooper, who cared for Preston from when he was just five days old, in June 2022. Mrs Cooper and her husband Paul have been fostering children for 27 years and have cared for 43 babies.
Speaking about Preston, she said: “He was just beautiful. He was happy, he laughed, he smiled really early – he was a really lovely baby. He loved cuddles, he had really nice eye contact – he was just having a really nice life.”, reports the Manchester Evening News.
In January 2023, care proceedings were finalised and Mrs Cooper was informed that the process of finding a forever family for Preston was underway, the court heard.
Mr Varley, a teacher, and his partner Mr McGowan-Fazackerley had already received approval as potential adoptive parents, and in March 2023 the match was confirmed, the jury heard.
The introduction process kicked off with the foster family meeting the prospective adopters at a restaurant in Ashton-Under-Lyne, it was reported. Mrs Cooper described the encounter as ‘really lovely’, and Preston seemed content being held by the couple.
Additional introductions were scheduled, initially at the Coopers’ residence and later at the adoptive fathers’ home on Staining Avenue, Blackpool, the court was informed.
Preston had issues with reflux and could be challenging to soothe, so Mrs Cooper decided to stay at a nearby hotel when Preston started having overnight stays with his new dads, she explained.
Mrs Cooper told the jury she was never summoned for assistance and on April 3, 2023, Preston permanently moved to Staining Avenue.
A series of post-adoption meetings were organised with Oldham council social worker Amy Shepherdson, who managed the adoption proceedings.
In May, Mrs Cooper was informed that the adoptive fathers had lodged a complaint about another foster carer being present during some of the introductions at her home, the court learned.
“I took that really badly,” she admitted. “I took that to be the day I never see him again.” She confessed she was “devastated” and “cried all day” because she believed the disagreement with Preston’s new parents would terminate their relationship.
Mrs Cooper informed the jury she exited a group chat that had been established between herself, her husband and the new parents. She mentioned she stayed in a separate chat with the same members and social workers.
A meeting was scheduled at Barton Grange for 29 April, but Mrs Cooper said Preston appeared ‘stiff and a bit blank.’ “We were just really worried”, she added.
She and her husband were caring for two other infants at the time and had to wake the children up at 6.30am for the visit, the court was told. “It was just made really difficult, but I would have done anything to see him that day”, she stated.
She revealed another meeting was planned for her birthday but the family did not show up. She told the court she expressed to a social worker she had a ‘gut feeling’ something was amiss and the couple were ‘hiding’ Preston from her.
Mr Varley is charged with murder; sexual assault; GBH; child cruelty; making indecent images; and distributing an indecent image.
Mr McGowan-Fazackerley is accused of causing and allowing the death of a child; two counts of cruelty to a person under 16; and sexual assault of a male child under 13.
Both defendants, of Chandlers Way, Grimsargh, deny the allegations.
