Jamie Varley received a whole life order on Thursday for sexually abusing and murdering 13-month-old Preston Davey. Mr Justice Turner told the court it means Varley will stay in prison for the rest of his life and never be eligible for parole.
The sentence followed an eight-week trial over the death of the child, who was placed by an adoption agency with Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley when he was nine months old. McGowan-Fazakerley was jailed for 25 years for sexual abuse, child cruelty and allowing the death of a child.
Preston Davey in court
Peter Wright KC told the court Preston had been treated as a "plaything" and had been "routinely ill-treated, sexually abused and physically assaulted" at the home in Staining, near Blackpool. Preston had been seen by social workers, doctors and nurses in the final weeks of his life, and Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley took him to hospital three times, once with a broken arm.
On 27 July 2023, Preston was rushed to hospital unresponsive. Medics worked for 50 minutes to try to save him, but a pathologist later gave the cause of death as acute upper airways obstruction by either smothering or an object or objects being inserted into the baby’s mouth.
Sarah Davey and Oldham council
Preston was born four weeks early to Sarah Davey, who was on the mother and baby unit at HMP Styal. He was taken from his biological mother five days after his birth and went to foster parents before being placed with Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley at nine months old.
Sarah Davey said of her son’s killing, "I will carry for the rest of my life". The case has also prompted questions about whether agencies missed opportunities to protect him before his death.
Oldham council review
After Preston’s death, Oldham council launched a child safeguarding practice review, and that review has resumed. The independent review will examine how Preston’s safeguarding was handled and the involvement of agencies responsible for his welfare before he died.
The sentence leaves Varley with no parole route, while the review now turns to the decisions made around Preston’s care before 13 months of life ended in hospital on 27 July 2023.
