WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT. Thousands of Brits have signed a petition demanding a national public inquiry into the safeguarding failures behind the murder of baby Preston Davey
Thousands of Brits are demanding a national public inquiry after the horrific murder of baby Preston Davey. The late 13-month-old boy was horrifically abused and killed by the man he had come to know as “dad”.
A petition titled “Preston Davey deserved better. Demand a national inquiry” has reached 17,525 signatures at the time of writing, as anger grows over how a child in the care of the state could be so catastrophically failed.
The petition, backed by the Blackpool Gazette and the Lancashire Post, along with Blackpool South MP Chris Webb and Preston’s birth parents Sarah Davey and Gary Nolan, calls on the Government to launch a national inquiry into safeguarding failures that led to his death.
In the petition text, campaigners wrote: “In less than four months, little Preston was sexually abused, physically assaulted, and left with 40 injuries. He was taken to hospital three times.
“Social workers visited regularly. His abusers even admitted to having dark thoughts about him.
“And still, nothing stopped it.” Preston was placed into emergency care five days after his birth in June 2022, and spent what has been described as a happy, stable first nine months with foster parents.
In April 2023, he was formally placed for adoption with Jamie Varley, 37, and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, in Blackpool – while the pair presented a smiling “perfect family” image on social media. Behind closed doors, prosecutors said Preston endured a “reign of terror”.
Over four months, he was subjected to severe abuse and was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital three times in six weeks with what were described as “cluster injuries”, including a seizure, severe bruising and a fractured elbow. Despite regular contact with professionals, explanations given by the couple were accepted.
On July 27, 2023, Varley brought Preston to hospital unconscious, claiming he had found him submerged in a bath. Doctors could not save him.
A Home Office post-mortem ruled out drowning and found Preston died from acute upper airway obstruction, caused by deliberate smothering or an object being forced into his mouth. The examination uncovered around 40 internal and external injuries, including severe trauma indicative of violent physical and sexual assault.
Police also recovered harrowing images and videos from Varley’s phone, prosecutors said. Following an eight-week trial at Preston Crown Court, Varley was convicted of murder, child cruelty, sexual offences and indecent images relating to Preston, and was sentenced to a whole-life order.
McGowan-Fazakerley was jailed for 25 years for allowing the death of a child, child cruelty and sexual assault. But as campaigners point out, the convictions do not answer the central question.
The petition states: “But the question that has to be asked – and answered – is how a baby boy in the care of the state could be so badly let down by every system designed to protect him.” It adds: “Preston Davey deserved better.”
The case has sparked national outrage. The Children’s Commissioner for England branded Preston’s death a “failure of the state” because a child taken into protective custody was placed into the hands of abusers.
An independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review has been launched, while MPs continue to push for a full public inquiry.
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