Thirteen-month-old Preston Davey was given up for adoption by a gay couple in Grimsargh. Just months later, he was allegedly raped and murdered.

In a heart-wrenching courtroom scene, the family of 13-month-old Preston Davey wept openly as the man who had been in the process of adopting him stood accused of his murder. Jamie Varley, 36, a former teacher from Blackpool, was charged with the brutal killing and sexual assault of the baby boy. Varley, along with his co-accused John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, faced the grim reality of their actions as they appeared at Preston Crown Court on charges that have left the public in shock and disbelief.

 

The tragedy unfolded in 2023, when the infant was brought into Blackpool Victoria Hospital in a state of unresponsiveness. The medical staff, working frantically to revive him, were unable to save him. Preston was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, a young life taken far too soon under circumstances that remain horrifying and incomprehensible. Both men, who had been involved in the adoption process, were immediately arrested and charged.

 

They appeared in court for the first time, where members of Preston’s family were in the public gallery, some of them visibly overcome with grief as they looked at the two men they once trusted.

 

Jamie Varley, a former high school teacher, is now accused of a series of horrific offenses, including murder, manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration of a child, five counts of child cruelty, and one count of grievous bodily harm. But the charges don’t end there.

 

Varley also faces multiple counts related to child pornography: ten counts of taking indecent photographs, one count of distributing indecent images, two counts of possessing indecent pseudo images, and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image. These charges paint a chilling picture of the abuse Preston suffered at the hands of the very man who had promised to be his father figure.

 

 

As the case continues to unfold, it becomes clear that the betrayal is not just one of violence, but of trust and love—a horrific violation of the sanctity of the family that many hoped Preston would find in Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley’s care.

 

During the brief hearing, both defendants spoke only to confirm their names. They were remanded in custody until their next appearance on October 13, 2023, for a plea hearing. The courtroom, filled with the grief-stricken relatives of Preston, bore witness to the raw emotion and pain of a family that will never understand how their child’s life was so tragically stolen away.

 

 

Judge Robert Altham addressed the family at the start of the hearing, acknowledging their presence in the court. “I gather there are members of Preston’s family here. They are most welcome,” the judge said, his voice steady yet carrying the weight of the case. It was clear that the family had been preparing for the long road of justice, but the journey was never one they thought they would have to endure.

 

 

Lancashire Police had been alerted on July 27, 2023, after the baby boy was brought to the hospital in a lifeless state. The officers, who were among those present in court, immediately launched an investigation into the incident. The disturbing details of what had happened to Preston in the days leading up to his death are still being uncovered. But the allegations against Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley paint a harrowing portrait of the abuse the child endured.

 

 

Varley’s full charges include one of murder, manslaughter, assault, and cruelty, but the most devastating of these charges are the sexual offenses. The disturbing nature of the charges—ranging from child sexual assault to the possession of indecent images—brings a new level of horror to the already tragic situation. The fact that a man who had been entrusted with a child’s well-being could commit such crimes is a betrayal beyond words.

 

McGowan-Fazakerley, who had also been in the process of adopting Preston, is charged with a lesser degree of involvement in the crime. He faces charges of allowing the death of a child, as well as child cruelty and one count of sexual assault. The difference in their charges has raised questions about the extent of McGowan-Fazakerley’s knowledge of the abuse Preston was suffering, though it’s clear that he, too, is implicated in the child’s tragic death.

 

 

The charges span several months, from March to July of 2023, and relate specifically to Preston Davey. Each charge brings more pain and disbelief, as the community grapples with the reality of what happened. The case has already left a permanent scar on those who knew Preston, and the ripple effect is felt by all who are familiar with the circumstances of his death.

 

 

Varley’s ties to education add a layer of shock to the situation. He had been a teacher at South Shore Academy, Blackpool, where he worked before his arrest in 2023. The school, under the management of the Cidari Multi Academy Trust, confirmed that Varley had been suspended upon his arrest.

 

Many are now left wondering how such a man could have been involved in the education of children. The very institution that should have been a safe space for young minds has been linked to a man who is now facing charges that defy belief.

 

For the family, this tragedy marks a chapter of unimaginable sorrow. A child who was once full of life, laughter, and potential is now gone, his future erased in a moment of unspeakable violence. For his relatives, the grief is compounded by the betrayal of those they had once considered part of their circle. They had hoped that Preston would find safety and love in his new family, but instead, he became the victim of the worst kind of betrayal.

 

 

As the legal process unfolds, Preston’s family remains steadfast in their fight for justice. They know that no amount of legal proceedings will bring their beloved child back, but they are determined to see those responsible held accountable for their actions. The case has already captivated the public’s attention, and it will continue to unfold in the months ahead.

 

 

For Preston, the justice system must now do what Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley failed to: offer him the protection and care that he deserved, even after his tragic death. It is a battle for truth and accountability, and it is one that Preston’s family will fight for every step of the way. As they wait for the next phase of the trial, they will hold on to the hope that Preston’s story will be told, and that the legacy of his life—no matter how short—will inspire change and awareness in the fight against child abuse.

 

 

The courtroom may offer justice, but it can never bring back the life of a child who was taken too soon. What remains is the memory of a baby boy whose life was filled with promise, now forever marked by the tragic end to what should have been his happily ever after. And for Preston’s family, the grief will never fully fade, but their fight for justice will ensure that his story is never forgotten.