{"id":4504,"date":"2026-06-03T16:59:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T16:59:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/man-says-he-misplaced-trust-in-partner-who-sexually-abused-and-murdered-baby\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T16:59:53","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T16:59:53","slug":"man-says-he-misplaced-trust-in-partner-who-sexually-abused-and-murdered-baby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/man-says-he-misplaced-trust-in-partner-who-sexually-abused-and-murdered-baby\/","title":{"rendered":"Man says he &#8216;misplaced trust&#8217; in partner who &#8216;sexually abused and murdered&#8217; baby"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_f70b30\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">John McGowan-Fazakerley, accused of allowing the baby&#8217;s death and sexual assault, told a court he &#8216;misplaced&#8217; trust in Jamie Varley, who is accused of murder and sexual abuse<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37244540\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Preston\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37244540.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/3_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37244540.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/3_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37244540.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/3_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37244540.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/3_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Preston Davey was adopted by the couple\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Preston Davey was adopted by the couple<cite aria-label=\"Image: Lancashire Police\/PA Wire\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Lancashire Police\/PA Wire)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The co-accused partner of a man alleged to have murdered and sexually abused their adopted baby son told a jury his trust in him was \u201cmisplaced\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, is said to have caused or allowed the death of 13-month-old Preston Davey, along with child cruelty and a sexual assault. His partner, high school teacher Jamie Varley, 37, is accused of murder as well as multiple offences of cruelty and child sexual abuse. Both men deny sexual interest in the baby and have pleaded not guilty to all charges at Preston Crown Court.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Preston, a \u201csweet and bubbly\u201d baby, was adopted by the couple in April 2023. During the four months Preston was living at their Blackpool home before he was rushed to hospital on July 27, it is alleged he was routinely ill-treated, had indecent images and videos taken of him, and was sexually abused and physically assaulted.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37244538\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37244538\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"John McGowan-Fazakerley\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37244538.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_John-McGowan-Fazakerley.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37244538.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_John-McGowan-Fazakerley.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37244538.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_John-McGowan-Fazakerley.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37244538.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_John-McGowan-Fazakerley.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"John McGowan-Fazakerley\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">John McGowan-Fazakerley<cite aria-label=\"Image: LancsLive\/MEN\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: LancsLive\/MEN)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sales manager McGowan-Fazakerley told the jury he had no reason to believe Varley had harmed Preston and thought he had drowned after Varley told him en route to hospital that he had left him alone in the bath.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He said he still believed his death was accidental as the couple continued to live with each other up until they were re-arrested in 2025 and then both charged. While on remand in prison he said he began to \u201ctry to put the puzzle together\u201d as he learned what the prosecution case would be.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">His barrister Anne Whyte KC said: \u201cPrior to standing trial at this building last month, had you reached a stage where you truly felt you understood what happened to Preston that day?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">McGowan-Fazakerley said \u201cNo, no. I don\u2019t think I fully understood why he is not here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ms Whyte said: \u201cAt the point of being charged were you still depending on what Mr Varley told you about the day?\u201d He replied: &#8220;Yes.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ms Whyte said: \u201cWhile on remand were you still depending on what Mr Varley told you about the day?\u201d He repeated: &#8220;Yes.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37244539\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37244539\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Jamie Varley\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37244539.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_jamie-varley.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37244539.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_jamie-varley.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37244539.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_jamie-varley.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37244539.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_jamie-varley.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Jamie Varley\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Jamie Varley<cite aria-label=\"Image: LancsLive\/MEN\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: LancsLive\/MEN)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ms Whyte said: \u201cNow, do you feel that you understand what happened?\u201d Pausing to answer, the defendant said: \u201cI feel I am starting to understand more about what\u2019s happened. I\u2019m starting to look at the sequence of events and what\u2019s been said, and to start forming that together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ms Whyte said: \u201cWhere you are now, do you feel as if your trust in Mr Varley was misplaced?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">McGowan-Fazakerley said: \u201cYes I do feel like my trust in Jamie has been misplaced.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Varley has denied fabricating the \u201cbath incident\u201d after a post-mortem examination ruled out drowning as the cause of the death and instead discovered Preston had suffered 40 traumatic injuries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">McGowan-Fazakerley told the court Varley never told him about a video recording he took of Preston on the afternoon of July 27 \u2013 while he was at work \u2013 over concerns the child had a seizure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ms Whyte said: \u201cWhen did you first see that video?\u201d McGowan-Fazakerley said: \u201cPolice interview.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ms Whyte said: \u201cWhat do you make of that?\u201d The defendant replied: \u201cI feel like he has hidden that from me. I don\u2019t understand why.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI can recall every aspect of that day from the moment I opened my eyes until I went to sleep. The days, weeks and months afterwards, all I have done is replay that day over and over and over again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cYou would not forget you made that video. I would not forget if I had made that video, and I don\u2019t know why he didn\u2019t tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He confirmed Varley was now his ex-partner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Varley denies murder, manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child, one of distributing an indecent photo of a child, to his co-accused, and one of making an indecent photo.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">McGowan-Fazakerley denies allowing the death of a child, three counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/preston-davey-murder-trial-baby-37244531\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>John McGowan-Fazakerley, accused of allowing the baby&#8217;s death and sexual assault, told a court he<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4505,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/3_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4504","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4504"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4504\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}