Adoptive Father Jamie Varley Accused of Smothering Preston Davey, 13 Months, in Blackpool
Jamie Varley, 37, a former high school teacher, has been charged with the murder of 13-month-old Preston Davey, alongside 25 other offences related to sexual and physical mistreatment. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, faces charges including causing or allowing the child's death and four additional offences. Both defendants deny all charges.
Preston Crown Court was informed that Preston Davey, who died in July 2023 at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, suffered approximately 40 traumatic injuries over a four-month period. Prosecutor Peter Wright KC stated that Preston was a "perfectly healthy boy" before being adopted by the defendants in April 2023.
The court heard that the child was admitted to hospital with injuries on three separate occasions within four months of his adoption. On 27 July, Preston was taken to A&E unconscious and in cardiac arrest, dying less than an hour later. A post-mortem examination determined the cause of death as acute upper airways obstruction, consistent with smothering.
Wright asserted that Preston's death was not accidental but rather the result of a "sinister pathology," alleging that Mr Varley was responsible for the child's murder. Evidence presented included videos found on Mr Varley's mobile phone, recorded on the day of Preston's death, showing the child exhibiting signs of respiratory arrest without medical intervention being sought.
Detectives also recovered indecent images and videos related to the abuse from Mr Varley's phone. The prosecution argued that while Mr Varley was primarily responsible for the abuse and death, evidence implicated both men in sexual assault, and Mr McGowan-Fazakerley had failed in his duty to protect the child. Mr Varley denies murder, manslaughter, assault by penetration, cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault, and multiple counts related to indecent images. Mr McGowan-Fazakerley denies allowing a child's death, child cruelty, and sexual assault of a child.
The trial is ongoing.
