A former teacher has been sentenced to a whole-life order for the abuse and murder of adopted 13-month-old Preston Davey.
Jamie Varley, 37, sexually, physically and emotionally abused the baby boy, who died three years ago.
He was convicted 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.
His partner, sales manager John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was sentenced to 25 years at Preston Crown Court for allowing the death of a child, sexual assault and cruelty.
Preston had been taken from his mother after an emergency care order by Oldham Council.
His mother, Sarah Davey, had been jailed for the “unspeakably wicked” murder of pensioner Lily Lilley, 71, in 1998 at the age of 14 and has been in and out of prison since.
Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley were approved for adoption, and at nine months old Preston began living at their home in Blackpool in April 2023.
Varley, from Blackpool, told police Preston drowned in a bath in July 2023, but a post-mortem found 40 injuries.
When delivering the sentence, Mr Justice Turner told the defendants: “The impact of Preston’s death on every one of them has been devastating.”
Former teacher Jamie Varley has been sentenced for the abuse and murder of adopted 13-month-old Preston Davey
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LANCASHIRE POLICE/PA
Speaking directly to Varley, he added: “Your selfish resentment towards Preston (from Jamie Varley) played at least some part in treating him so badly in the weeks that followed.”
“The seriousness of your offending is exceptionally high and the appropriate starting point is whole life order.
“This is a case of extreme gravity … you will never be eligible for parole.
“You will stay in prison for the rest of your life.”
There was no reaction from Varley or McGowan-Fazakerley when they left the dock.
During the sentencing hearing, a victim statement from Preston’s biological mother, Sarah, was read to the court.
It said: “Preston 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. The day he was taken from me was the worst day of my life.
“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.
“They (Preston’s foster parents) and the system trusted you (defendants), and that trust was unforgivably broken. Preston was defenceless.”
Preston Davey died at 13 months old in July 2023
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LANCASHIRE POLICE
The statement added: “I will never forgive you for what you did to my son and what you stopped him from becoming and achieving in his life. Every single day, I live with the unimaginable pain of wondering what he went through.
“Those thoughts do not leave me. They are with me when I wake up, and they haunt me when I try to sleep.”
“The reality of how he suffered is something I will carry for the rest of my life. Preston should be here today. He would be four years old. He should be getting ready to start school, learning, laughing, and living his life.
“Instead, he is forever thirteen months old. I am left trying to live a life that no longer makes sense. I carry grief, guilt, and heartbreak every single day.
“To my beautiful blue-eyed boy, Preston, you were, and always will be, loved beyond words. I wanted you with me every single day. We all did. Your Nanna fought so hard for you, and you deserved to be with the people who loved you.”
Preston Davey had been taken from his mother after an emergency care order by Oldham Council
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A statement on behalf of Gary Nolan, Preston’s biological father, was read to the court, in which he described having nightmares about his son.
Mr Nolan spoke of the “son that I never got to meet and now never will” while waiting for an appointment with social services.
The statement read: “Preston was my first and only son. The fact that he has been taken away from me has stopped me from having a father-son relationship.”
It added: “I was having nightmares about Preston after hearing about the autopsy. These included seeing some horrific images in my mind. The only thing that got me off the alcohol was when I started throwing up blood; at that point, I knew that I needed help.
“Prior to that, I didn’t realise just how hard hearing the news of Preston had hit me. I am thankful to the church community that they have supported me, and I am now in a better place mentally and teetotal. Despite that, I am still, to this day, on antidepressants and anxiety tablets, things that have only been required following my release from hospital.”
John McGowan-Fazakerley was also sentenced at Preston Crown Court for allowing the death of a child, sexual assault and cruelty
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PA
The court also heard victim statements from Preston’s foster parents, Paul and Sandra Cooper, who spoke fondly of the baby.
Mrs Cooper said: “Preston’s face would light up when we looked at him; he was joyful, so content and happy, with sparkly, smiling eyes. That is how we want to remember him,” she told the court.”
She added: “I will often dream about Preston and I feel that he is still alive, but when I wake up, I realise he has died and I go through the trauma again of knowing he has died and how. I just want to see his smiling, happy face again.”
Mr Cooper said: “Preston had his whole life ahead of him, one that should have been a happy life with a new family. I will never ever forget him. I cannot express enough the pain that I am going through to even speak about this and the way his life was cut so short. I will never forget you Preston.”
A Government spokesman described the murder as a “sickening case of evil abusers exploiting a vulnerable child”.
They added the public would “rightly demand answers about what went wrong” and vowed to take steps to ensure “anyone responsible for negligence faces consequences”.
The spokesman added: “An independent review has been commissioned by the local authorities and the independent national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel will work with them to get to the bottom of this horrifying case.
“The reviewer will publish their findings as soon as possible.”