A high school teacher has been handed a whole life term for the “sadistic” murder and sexual abuse of his adopted baby. Jamie Varley, 37, adopted Preston Davey at nine-months-old with his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, before treating him as his “plaything”, sexually assaulting and physically abusing him.

Just four months later Varley murdered the baby boy, following a sexual assault, at their Blackpool home. Sentencing Varley at Preston Crown Court, Mr Justice Turner said 13-month-old Preston had faced “unremitting abuse” and neglect.