Sick instructor learns destiny after killing and sexually abusing 13-month-old Preston Davey

WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Sick ex-teacher Jamie Varley, 37, and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, have been jailed following four months of cruel abuse that led to the death of 13-month-old Preston Davey

A twisted former secondary school teacher and his partner have been jailed after being convicted of the murder and sexual abuse of a 13-month-old baby.

Jamie Varley, 37, adopted Preston Davey at nine months old with his partner, former public school pupil and financial sales manager, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, and brought him to their home in Blackpool, Lancashire in April 2023.

However, in the just under four months he was in their care, he was regularly mistreated, had indecent images and videos taken of him, sexually abused and physically assaulted, suffering 40 traumatic injuries, the defendant’s trial at Preston Crown Court has heard.

High Court judge Mr Justice Turner sentenced Varley to a whole life order for the murder and sexual abuse of Preston.

The judge told Varley: “It was you who did this. You murdered him. A whole life order is a sentence of last resort for cases of the most extreme gravity.

“This is a case of the most extreme gravity. You must stay in prison for the rest of your life. You will never be eligible for parole.” Varley made no reaction when the sentenced was handed down, reports the Manchester Evening News.

His partner McGowan-Fazakerley has been sentenced to 25 years for sexual assault and allowing the death of a child.

Preston was born to convicted killer Sarah Davey, who was forced to give up the child. Sarah also wrote a statement, which was read out in court during sentencing as she broke down in tears. Foster parents Sandra and Paul Cooper, who cared for Preston from him being five-days-old, also both read out their statements to Preston Crown Court today.

Varley was found guilty of murder, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child, one of distributing an indecent photo of a child, to his co-accused, and one of making an indecent photo.

McGowan-Fazakerley was convicted of allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child. Varley remained in the dock and covered his face in disbelief as the guilty verdicts were delivered, before dropping to his knees, retching and being sick.

High Court judge Mr Justice Turner spoke to the parents and foster parents, saying: “The impact on all have been devastating.”

The judge then addressed the pair saying how Varley complained the lack of sleep from Preston being restless and that had strained the couple’s relationship.

He continued: “You gave the reason Preston had started crawling and the bruises were down to him bumping his head.

“On June 15 you John McGowan-Fazakerley were late from work. You Jamie Varley took out your frustration on Preston. You took a video of the chilling act of sleep deprivation and sent it to McGowan-Fazakerley who must have formed a clear view of what you were prepared to do to Preston.”

He continues: “On July 23, 2023, four days before Preston’s death, it was a Sunday and you were both at home. Jamie Varley took seven images showing Preston draped over the bars of his cot with his neck in direct contact with the bars.

“You do not need medical training to realise this was an alarmingly dangerous position. You John McGowan-Fazakerley witnessed this and rather than laying Preston down to rest took part in a joint sexual assault. His lips were turning blue due to lack of oxygen, forming the basis of the charges of sexual assault.”

Recalling an incident on July 27, which was was the day of Preston’s murder. The judge detailed how Varley was alone at home with Preston.

The judge told the court how Preston has a seizure at 4.35pm and his killer had videoed it. The judged said “I’m sure it was caused by your further abuse” as he noted how Preston’s his lips were again blue.

He said: “The expert says he must have stopped breathing for 45 seconds or so and seemed to take no breaths for 15 seconds. He was clearly in need of medical attention and I’m sure the reason you did not seek it because of what you had done to him.

“Your abuse that afternoon resulted in further injuries to Preston’s pelvic organs found on post mortem. They were not causative of his death but they show sexual assault.”

The judge tells the court that at 6.15pm McGowan-Fazakerley returned home but it was too late to save him. He was taken to hospital but pronounced dead later that evening.

Sarah’s statement read to the court today heartbreakingly details how “perfect” Preston was from the moment he was born and how it was not her choice for him to be taken from her.

Her statement went on to speak to the twisted couple directly as she told them “I will never forgive you for what you did to my son and what you stopped him from becoming and achieving in his life.”

It read: “Preston Paul Arlo Davey was perfect from the moment he was born. 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. 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. Those memories should have brought me comfort—but instead, they are now mixed with pain, because I know what you put him through in his final months.

“The day he was taken from me was one of the worst days of my life. I had no choice in that decision. I tried to take some comfort in believing he would be safe, loved, and protected, and he was with his foster parents, Sandra and Paul, I trusted them, they and the system trusted you, that trust was completely and unforgivably broken. Preston was innocent.”

Preston’s foster family also spoke to the court and read out the statements themselves. Paul Cooper told the court how Preston’s cruel death continues to live with him. He said he often sometimes wakes up three to four times a night thinking of Preston and regular breaks down in tears to this day.

He also told the court, in front of the evil couple, that he wished the couple could have kept him as Preston death felt “like I have lost my own child”.

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