Arabic version: مدرس يُدان بقتل ابنه الرضيع المتبنى
A teacher has been found guilty of sexually abusing and murdering his 13-month-old adopted son, Preston Davey, following a trial at Preston Crown Court. Jamie Varley, 37, from Blackpool, initially claimed that Preston drowned accidentally in a bath, but a post-mortem examination revealed the child had endured 40 injuries. Varley had taken a year off work to adopt the boy alongside his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, who was also found guilty of sexual assault, child cruelty and allowing the death of a child. Both men are set to be sentenced on Thursday.
Preston was adopted in April 2023, just months before his tragic death in July 2023. During the brief period in Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley’s care, the child suffered severe abuse, including sexual assault and physical harm. The court heard that Preston was born in June 2022 and had previously been in foster care for the first ten months of his life. His mother, Sarah Davey, has a history of violence, having been jailed for murder at the age of 14.
The prosecution described the case as one of the most shocking they had ever encountered. Detective Chief Inspector Andy Fallows labeled Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley as “pure evil,” stating that almost immediately after adoption, they began a campaign of abuse that turned Preston’s life into a “harrowing tale of misery and pain.” Varley was found guilty on multiple counts, including 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, and one of making an indecent photo. McGowan-Fazakerley faced charges for allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.
A spokesperson for Oldham Council expressed deep sorrow over the case, acknowledging it as particularly heart-wrenching. They confirmed that an independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review is underway to examine the circumstances surrounding Preston’s care. Regional adoption agency Adoption Now also commented on the tragedy, emphasizing their commitment to a rigorous adoption assessment process. According to BBC News, the community is grappling with the aftermath of these horrific crimes.
