Jamie Varley, 37, was jailed for life after he was convicted of murdering 13-month-old Preston Davey after a campaign of ‘unremitting abuse’
Jamie Varley is serving a whole-life order for the horrific murder of Preston Davey(Image: Lancashire Police/PA Wire)
A sadistic school teacher who murdered his adopted baby during a sex attack has appeared in court.
Jamie Varley, 37, was given a whole life term last month for the murder of 13-month-old Preston Davey who suffered “unremitting abuse” at the hands of the former high school head of year.
Varley appeared at Preston Crown Court via videolink from HMP Wakefield, often described as “Monster Mansion” and housing some of the country’s most notorious murderers.
Wearing a stripey jumper, Varley appeared from a room at the jail, his elbows resting on a desk in front of him with his hands clasped in front of his face and spoke only to confirm his identity.
He appeared for a brief, two-minute hearing under the “slip rule” which allows judges to correct legal errors or rectify accidental mistakes.
After being found guilty of murder and 24 other offences, when he was sentenced last month he had not been sentenced in error for one count of sexual assault.
Mr Justice Turner, also appearing via videolink along with other lawyers involved in the trial, sentenced Varley to seven years jail on count 12, the sexual assault of the child, to run concurrent with his other sentences.
It will have no practical effect as Varley was given a whole life term and told he will never be released from jail by the same judge when he passed sentence on June 18.
Varley’s partner, ex-public schoolboy John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, also appeared by videolink from HMP Preston at the hearing.
He was jailed for 25 years for allowing Varley’s treatment of the child and taking part in the sexual abuse, following an eight-week trial of the pair.
Detectives said their crimes had “shocked the nation” and described Varley as “evil” and a “sadist”.
Preston had been treated as a “plaything”, with the child routinely sexually assaulted and physically abused after the couple adopted him aged nine months, before his murder four months later at their Blackpool home in July 2023.
A social services investigation is under way.
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