The courtroom was silent as Jamie Varley, 36, sat facing accusations of unimaginable cruelty. Beside him, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, awaited the unfolding of a case centered around the tragic death of 13-month-old Preston Davey, a child they were in the process of adopting.
A chilling text message surfaced, sent by Varley to his sister, a baby sleep trainer, on April 6th. The words were stark and unsettling: “He’s dead meat today.” He followed this with a description of a sleepless night, punctuated by the baby waking every ninety minutes.
Just four days later, Varley sent a video of Preston in his walker to his mother, Karen Graham. Her simple reply of “clever boy xxx” was met with a disturbing addendum from Varley: “This was before he was murdered and put to bed.” The casualness of the statement sent a ripple of horror through the courtroom.
In another exchange, Varley described Preston as a “ray of sunshine,” yet confessed a dark thought to a friend: “First sleepover. I wanted to put him in the field with the cows.” This jarring contrast painted a picture of internal conflict and a disturbing detachment.
On July 6th, 2023, Varley brought Preston to the hospital with an injured elbow. He claimed the baby had been injured while being lowered into his cot, a story of a sudden “pop” or “click.” An X-ray revealed a small fracture, and the arm was cast.
A social worker, Amy Shepherdson, reassured Varley after the hospital visit, stating there were “absolutely no concerns” and that he had “done the right thing.” She later visited their home, observing that Preston appeared pale and listless, his attempts at a smile quickly dissolving into sadness and tears.
A text message to a friend, Tanya Tingle, revealed a fragmented confession: “We did it we think…not on purpose but caught him when falling.” The ambiguity of the statement offered a glimpse into a desperate attempt to rationalize a terrible event.
An independent reviewer from social services, Helen Magee, noted in her report, addressed directly to the baby, that Preston seemed happy with both his fathers. She questioned whether she had missed something, ultimately concluding there was “no issue.”
Dr. Alberto Elbo, the orthopaedic surgeon who treated Preston, testified that Varley had initially described the injury as occurring while the baby was being strapped into a car seat, not a cot. The doctor’s notes reflected this account, a detail challenged during questioning.
Preston was born on June 16, 2022, and immediately placed into the care of Oldham Council, spending his first five days with foster parents. After a period of assessment, he was adopted by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley, moving into their home on April 1st, 2023.
Varley had taken a year off from his teaching position to care for Preston, but struggled with the demands of a new baby who frequently woke during the night, compounded by his partner’s long working hours. The court heard allegations of routine ill-treatment, the creation of indecent images, and physical and sexual abuse during the four months Preston lived with the couple.
On July 27th, 2023, Preston was rushed to the hospital unconscious and in cardiac arrest. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived. Varley initially claimed the child had accidentally drowned in the bath, a narrative contradicted by a post-mortem examination revealing forty traumatic injuries.
Varley now faces charges of murder, manslaughter, multiple counts of assault, cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, and sexual offenses. McGowan-Fazakerley denies allowing Preston’s death, as well as charges of child cruelty and sexual assault. The trial continues, seeking to unravel the truth behind this devastating tragedy.
