A former teacher has been convicted of murdering the 13 month old boy he adopted with his partner.
Preston Davey died in July 2023 while in the care of Jamie Varley, 37, who had taken a year away from work following the adoption. Varley initially told police that the child had accidentally drowned in a bath, but investigators later found evidence that contradicted that account.
Varley’s partner, John McGowan Fazakerley, 32, was also convicted on multiple offences, including child cruelty and allowing the death of a child. Both men are due to be sentenced on Thursday.
The court heard that Preston was adopted by the couple in April 2023 after spending the first months of his life in foster care. During the short period he lived with them, he suffered repeated abuse and mistreatment.
Preston was born in June 2022 and was taken into care by Oldham Council shortly after birth. His mother, Sarah Davey, now 42, had a lengthy history within the criminal justice system.
Family members became emotional in court as jurors returned 29 guilty verdicts.
Preston had been placed with foster carers at five days old and remained with them for approximately 10 months. After Varley and McGowan Fazakerley were approved as adoptive parents, he moved into their Blackpool home at nine months old.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that Preston sustained numerous injuries while under their care. The court also heard that inappropriate images and videos of the child had been created.
Medical professionals had raised concerns after noticing suspicious bruising during several hospital visits before Preston’s death, although explanations were provided at the time. He was also seen by a number of social workers.
On 27 July, Varley took Preston to hospital after finding him unresponsive. His explanation of what happened was challenged by evidence presented during the trial.
A Home Office post mortem examination concluded that drowning was not the cause of death.
As the verdicts were delivered, Varley reacted emotionally in court, while McGowan Fazakerley remained largely expressionless.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Fallows described the pair as “pure evil”.
“Almost from day one, they set about abusing Preston and making his short life a harrowing tale of misery and pain,” he said.
“For the first nine months of his life Preston was a happy and healthy child but by the end he was a broken shell.
“This was due to the sordid and wicked acts of Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley.”
Karen Tonge of the Crown Prosecution Service said it was one of the “most shocking and horrific cases I have dealt with in my career”.
Following an eight week trial, jurors spent about 14 hours considering the evidence before reaching their verdicts.
Varley was convicted of murder and a number of additional offences relating to the abuse of the child. McGowan Fazakerley was convicted of allowing the death of a child, child cruelty and other related offences.
Reacting to the verdicts, a spokesperson for Oldham Council said: “The death of any child is a tragedy, but this is a particularly heart-wrenching and disturbing case.
“We are thankful that the perpetrators of the sickening murder and abuse of an innocent child have today been convicted for their crimes.”
The council confirmed that an independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review is already taking place to examine the circumstances surrounding the case.
“Our thoughts remain with Preston’s family, loved ones, and the many people affected by this case.”
Adoption Now, the regional adoption agency involved, described it as a “deeply upsetting case, and our thoughts are with everyone affected by these truly awful crimes”.
The agency said it follows “a strict and rigorous process… in the assessment and approval of adopters”.
“An independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review is being completed.”
Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday by Mr Justice Turner, who thanked jurors for their service and told them that, “bearing in mind what we have called upon you to do”, they would be exempt from jury service for life.
