A secondary school teacher has been given a whole-life prison sentence for the sexual abuse and murder of the 13-month-old baby he was in the process of adopting with his partner.

Jamie Varley, 37, received the rare whole-life order at Preston Crown Court, meaning he will never be eligible for release. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was sentenced to 25 years for sexual abuse, child cruelty, and allowing the death of a child.

The court heard that the couple treated the infant, Preston Davey, as a “plaything.” Over the months the baby lived with them in Staining, near Blackpool, he was routinely ill-treated, sexually abused, and physically assaulted. Medical evidence showed Preston had suffered 40 traumatic injuries.

The Final Hours and False Account
On 27 July 2023, the couple took an unresponsive Preston to hospital. Doctors worked for 50 minutes but were unable to save him. Varley, described as overly dramatic, gave what one senior doctor called a “performance” of grief unlike anything she had previously witnessed.

Varley claimed he had left the baby in the bath for a couple of minutes and returned to find him submerged. The medical evidence contradicted that story. Preston’s hair was dry, he was still wearing a nappy, and there was no sign he had swallowed water. A pathologist concluded the cause of death was acute upper airways obstruction caused by smothering or objects being forced into his mouth.

A lengthy police investigation later uncovered disturbing images and videos on Varley’s phone that demonstrated the physical, psychological, and sexual abuse the baby had endured.

Missed Opportunities and Safeguarding Failures
The eight-week trial revealed that Preston had been seen by a wide range of professionals in the final weeks of his life — social workers, doctors, and nurses. The couple took him to hospital three times, including once with a broken arm. Each time he was returned to their care. No serious alarms were raised, and the explanations offered by Varley, a head of year at a Blackpool secondary school, and McGowan-Fazakerley were accepted.

A child safeguarding practice review by Oldham Council, paused during the criminal trial, has now resumed. The independent review will examine how agencies responsible for Preston’s welfare handled his case.

Children’s Commissioner for England Rachel de Souza described the murder as a “massive safeguarding failure” and questioned whether Varley’s position as a teacher led professionals to place too much trust in him.

Family Statements
Preston’s biological mother, Sarah Davey, who was in prison when he was born, said in a victim impact statement that his death “should never have been allowed to happen.” She carried “grief, guilt and heartbreak” every day and told the court that the defendants had taken everything from a defenceless child who relied on them completely.

His former foster parents, Sandra and Paul Cooper, with whom he lived happily for his first nine months, also spoke in court. They described a joyful, content baby with “sparkly smiling eyes” and said they often watched videos of him from that happier time.

Police Response
Senior investigating officer DCI Andy Fallows of Lancashire Police described Varley as “evil” and “monstrous.” He called the case one of the most challenging his team had ever handled and an extreme example of “sordid and wicked behaviour by completely remorseless human beings.”

The NSPCC said important lessons must be learned and that a thorough review is essential to determine whether more could have been done to protect Preston.

The whole-life order places Jamie Varley among a small number of offenders in the UK who will never be released. The case has left the public and professionals asking how a baby in the care system could suffer such prolonged abuse without intervention.

Main Sources: The Guardian and court reporting from Preston Crown Court.