Preston Elijah Davey Case Update: Teacher Given Whole-Life Order for Murder of 13-Month-Old Boy

Updated June 24, 2026

A former secondary school teacher has been ordered to spend the rest of his life in prison for murdering and sexually abusing 13-month-old Preston Elijah Davey, a baby he was in the process of adopting with his partner in Blackpool, England.

Jamie Varley was convicted at Preston Crown Court on June 15, 2026, following a seven-week trial. Three days later, the 37-year-old received a whole-life order, one of the most severe sentences available under English law. He will never be eligible for parole.

Varley’s partner, 32-year-old John McGowan-Fazakerley, was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was convicted of causing or allowing Preston’s death, two child-cruelty offences and one count of sexually assaulting the child. Lancashire Police said he must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before he can be considered for release.

Preston’s early life

Preston was born at Wythenshawe Hospital on June 16, 2022. Five days later, he was placed in emergency foster care under the authority of Oldham Council.

He spent approximately nine months with foster carers Sandra and Paul Cooper, who described him as a happy, affectionate and thriving baby. Health professionals reportedly considered him healthy, apart from a minor reflux problem.

Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley were approved as prospective adopters in early 2023. An adoption panel approved Preston’s placement with them on March 23, and he spent his first night at their Blackpool home on March 31.

The court heard that Preston needed love, safety and stability. Instead, the prosecution proved that he experienced repeated physical, emotional and sexual abuse during the four months he lived with the couple.

Police recovered phone messages showing that Varley began complaining about the baby within weeks of the placement. Investigators also found photographs and videos documenting injuries, cruelty and sexual abuse.

Repeated warning signs

One of the most disturbing aspects of the case is the number of times Preston came into contact with professionals before his death.

On May 11, 2023, McGowan-Fazakerley briefly called the emergency services. The call was ended after four seconds. He later contacted the NHS 111 service and reported that Preston was having breathing difficulties and could not hold his head properly. Although an out-of-hours assessment was arranged, the couple did not answer the return call or obtain medical help.

Preston was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital three times between May and July.

During the first visit, on May 25, Varley claimed Preston had experienced breathing difficulties and a seizure. Staff noticed bruising on his head, and hospital safeguarding personnel contacted the police. However, medical staff ultimately indicated that they did not consider the injuries to be non-accidental.

Preston returned to the hospital on June 30 with a rash. Bruises were again observed. The couple showed staff an older video of a toy box falling on him, but investigators later established that the recording could not explain the injuries seen that day.

On July 6, Preston was taken to hospital with a fractured arm. Varley gave different explanations to medical professionals, social workers and friends about how the injury had happened. The fracture was subsequently determined to have been caused non-accidentally.

Despite the hospital visits, police contact and involvement of social workers and health professionals, Preston remained in the couple’s care. ITV reported that he had been seen by a “battery of professionals” during the final weeks of his life.

Preston’s death

On July 27, 2023, Varley recorded Preston lying on a bed, visibly struggling to breathe. Prosecutors said Varley assaulted him and subsequently caused an obstruction to his airway while the two were alone in the house.

Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley did not arrive at Blackpool Victoria Hospital with Preston until approximately 6:24 p.m. He was unconscious and in cardiac arrest. Despite medical efforts to save him, Preston was pronounced dead shortly after 7:00 p.m.

Varley claimed that he had left Preston alone briefly in a bath and returned to find him submerged. Medical and forensic evidence contradicted that account. Preston was reportedly completely dry when he reached the hospital, and his post-mortem examination did not support accidental drowning.

The Crown Prosecution Service said Preston died from an acute upper-airway obstruction. Prosecutors successfully argued that he had been smothered or that something had been inserted into his mouth, blocking his breathing.

The post-mortem examination identified approximately 40 separate injuries, including extensive bruising, internal injuries and a healing fracture to his left arm. Medical evidence also showed injuries consistent with sexual assault.

Digital evidence recovered from the defendants’ phones became crucial to the prosecution. It included messages, photographs and videos that documented the abuse and contradicted explanations offered by the couple.

Verdicts and sentences

Varley was convicted of murder, two counts of assault by penetration, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault, child cruelty and numerous offences involving indecent images of Preston.

When imposing the whole-life order, Mr Justice Turner described the case as one of “the most extreme gravity.” The judge said Varley had used his professional standing as a teacher, along with his charm and manner, to reassure people when Preston was not safe.

McGowan-Fazakerley was not convicted of murder, but the jury concluded that he sexually assaulted Preston, participated in cruelty and allowed the child’s death.

The jury deliberated for more than two days before returning unanimous guilty verdicts. Because of the harrowing evidence jurors had been required to examine, the judge permanently excused them from future jury service.

Safeguarding review resumes

The criminal case has now shifted attention toward the agencies responsible for Preston’s protection.

Oldham Council launched an independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review after his death, but the process was paused while criminal proceedings were underway. Following the convictions, that review has resumed.

It is expected to examine the adoption process, social-work supervision, Preston’s hospital visits, the sharing of information between agencies and whether opportunities to intervene were missed.

Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England, described Preston’s death as a failure of both the state and the safeguarding system. She questioned why repeated medical visits and professional contact did not result in his removal from the home.

Preston’s biological parents and foster family delivered deeply emotional statements to the court. Sandra and Paul Cooper said they remembered him as a joyful baby whose smile could light up a room. They have continued fostering children in his memory.

The sentences have brought the criminal trial to an end, but the wider investigation into how Preston was failed is far from over. The safeguarding review will now be expected to determine what went wrong, whether his death could have been prevented and what changes are necessary to protect other vulnerable children.