Jamie Varley Called Preston Davey "Dead Meat" Weeks Before Toddler's July 2023 Death

A former teacher accused of sexually abusing and killing an adopted baby messaged that the child was "dead meat" and that he had "murdered" him in the weeks prior to the infant's death, Preston Crown Court has heard.

Jamie Varley, 37, and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, adopted 13-month-old Preston Davey in April 2023. For nearly four months following his adoption, the child allegedly suffered 40 traumatic injuries at the defendants' Blackpool home, jurors were told.

Preston died in hospital on 27 July 2023. Varley denies murder, while McGowan-Fazakerley denies allowing the death of a child, alongside multiple other charges.

Adoptive Parents' Struggles and Alleged Communications

Preston began living with the defendants on 1 April 2023. Days later, Varley, who had taken a year's sabbatical from his role as a high school head of year for the adoption, reportedly confessed difficulties with sleep deprivation due to the baby's frequent night waking.

On 6 April, Varley texted his sister, a baby sleep trainer, stating: "He's dead meat today. Didn't sleep last night after 11.30. Up every, one and a half hours." Four days later, Varley sent his mother, Karen Graham, a video of Preston, to which he replied, "This was before he was murdered and put to bed." He also told a friend he "wanted to put him in the field with the cows," though he also described Preston as a "ray of sunshine."

Further messages from Varley indicated Preston was "refusing" to sleep, was "very needy," and "just annoying. Lol." He also told a friend: "Right now we are questioning every choice." In other communications, Varley detailed Preston "crying all the time" and described their struggle with lack of sleep as a "nightmare."

Preston's Health Prior to Adoption

Foster parent Sandra Cooper cared for Preston for ten months after his birth in June 2022. She stated that Preston was a "very happy baby" and, despite not being a good sleeper, would settle quickly with his head stroked. After a dairy intolerance was identified and his milk adjusted, Mrs Cooper described Preston as "happy and content" and "a perfectly healthy baby."

Mrs Cooper handed Preston over to the defendants at the end of March 2023. However, in the subsequent months, Preston was hospitalised three times, including once with a fractured left elbow.

On 27 July 2023, the defendants rushed Preston to hospital, where he arrived unconscious and in cardiac arrest. Medics were unable to revive him. Varley informed police he had briefly left the child in the bath, returning to find him drowning.

A post-mortem examination revealed multiple non-accidental, internal, and external injuries. The cause of death was determined as acute upper airways obstruction, potentially by smothering or an object inserted into his mouth.

Varley denies murder, manslaughter, 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 denies allowing the death of a child, three counts of child cruelty, and one count of the sexual assault of a child.

The trial is ongoing.