{"id":5584,"date":"2026-06-15T15:24:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T15:24:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/preston-daveys-sick-parents-warped-relationship-before-turning-on-each-other-in-court\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T15:24:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T15:24:30","slug":"preston-daveys-sick-parents-warped-relationship-before-turning-on-each-other-in-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/preston-daveys-sick-parents-warped-relationship-before-turning-on-each-other-in-court\/","title":{"rendered":"Preston Davey&#8217;s sick\u00a0parents&#8217; warped relationship before turning on each other in court"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_2811f9\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT. John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, and Jamie Varley, 37, have now been found guilty following the death of their adopted baby son, Preston Davey<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\"><\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\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=\"37299315\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Undated handout photo issued by Lancashire Police of Preston Davey. \" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299315.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299315.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/2_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299315.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/2_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299315.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"John McGowan-Fazakerley and Jamie Varley have now been convicted following the death of their adopted baby son, Preston Davey\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">John McGowan-Fazakerley and Jamie Varley have now been convicted following the death of their adopted baby son, Preston Davey<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\">It was a union supposedly forged from a &#8216;life-changing&#8217; love that ended with the vicious abuse and death of their adopted baby,<a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" Preston Davey.Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/preston-davey-mercy-abusive-parents-37266214\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\"> Preston Davey.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Now <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"John McGowan-Fazakerley,Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/preston-davey-mercy-abusive-parents-37266214\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">John McGowan-Fazakerley,<\/a> 32, and<a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" Jamie Varley,Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/preston-davey-mercy-abusive-parents-37266214\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\"> Jamie Varley,<\/a> 37, have turned against each other, in a dark end to their twisted relationship. But they will be forever bound by their terrible crime.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Varley of was found guilty of murder, 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 was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The pair had denied having a sexual interest in the child and pleaded not guilty to all charges, in a case that saw both men point fingers of blame at each other. However, after hearing weeks of harrowing evidence, jurors put together a devastating picture of the torment young Preston endured in the final months of his life.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-grouped\">\n<div class=\"ImageGroupEmbed_container__i0sRj\" data-testid=\"portrait-image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageGroupEmbed_image-group-item__XHC82\"><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-37299315\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37299315\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:2\/3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Undated handout photo issued by Lancashire Police of Preston Davey.\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299315.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/2_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299315.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/2_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299315.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/2_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299315.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/2_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Preston was said to be 'a perfectly healthy baby' when he was delivered into the care of McGowan-Fazakerley and Varley\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Preston was said to be &#8216;a perfectly healthy baby&#8217; when he was delivered into the care of McGowan-Fazakerley and Varley<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><\/div>\n<div class=\"ImageGroupEmbed_image-group-item__XHC82\"><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-37299316\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37299316\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:2\/3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"2 pix of Preston Davey issued by Lancs Police\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299316.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_unnamed-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299316.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_unnamed-1.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299316.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_unnamed-1.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299316.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_unnamed-1.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The tot was just 13 months old when he died\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The tot was just 13 months old when he died<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">On April 1, 2023, McGowan-Fazakerley and Varley adopted \u201csweet and bubbly\u201d Preston, then nine months old, bringing him to live with them at their Blackpool home. Tragically, just four months later, little Preston was dead at 13 months old. On July 27 2023, having suffered a cardiac arrest, the tot was rushed to the hospital, where sadly, medics could do nothing to revive him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Varley told officers he&#8217;d briefly left Preston in the tub, only to find him off his seat and submerged upon his return. However, no water was found in Preston&#8217;s lungs or in the tub where the tragedy was said to take place.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A post-mortem examination, which ruled out drowning, found 40 external and internal trauma injuries to Preston&#8217;s body, consistent with \u201cforcible penetration\u201d and sexual abuse. A pathologist concluded that the cause of death was acute upper airways obstruction by either smothering or an object or objects being inserted into his mouth.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-grouped\">\n<div class=\"ImageGroupEmbed_container__i0sRj\" data-testid=\"portrait-image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageGroupEmbed_image-group-item__XHC82\"><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-37163045\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37163045\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:2\/3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Preston's adopted father Jamie Varley, 37, is accused of his murder. His partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, is accused of causing or allowing his death. Both men deny the charges, along with further counts of child cruelty and sexual assault.&#10;Jamie Varley\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37163045.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_jamie-varley.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37163045.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_jamie-varley.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37163045.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_jamie-varley.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37163045.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_jamie-varley.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Varley told Preston Crown Court: 'My whole life just changed when I met John.'\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Varley told Preston Crown Court: &#8216;My whole life just changed when I met John.&#8217;<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<div class=\"ImageGroupEmbed_image-group-item__XHC82\"><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-37163054\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37163054\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:2\/3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Preston's adopted father Jamie Varley, 37, is accused of his murder. His partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, is accused of causing or allowing his death. Both men deny the charges, along with further counts of child cruelty and sexual assault.&#10;John McGowan-Fazakerley\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37163054.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/2_John-McGowan-Fazakerley.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37163054.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/2_John-McGowan-Fazakerley.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37163054.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/2_John-McGowan-Fazakerley.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37163054.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/2_John-McGowan-Fazakerley.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"McGowan-Fazakerley turned on his former partner in court\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">McGowan-Fazakerley turned on his former partner in court<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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Preston was said to be &#8220;a perfectly healthy baby&#8221; when he was delivered into the care of McGowan-Fazakerley and Varley, who gave the impression of being model parents with their good jobs and apparent longing to start a family of their own.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As design and technology teacher, Varley would later tell Preston Crown Court: \u201cI had always thought about having kids, I wanted to be a teacher, a daddy, just never thought it was possible once I realised I was a gay man. John was everything I had ever asked for in a relationship. My whole life just changed when I met John.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But, as highlighted by Peter Wright KC, in his closing speech to the jury, Varley\u2019s sexual interest in Preston became evident \u201cwithin weeks\u201d of him being brought into their home.<\/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-37299311\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37299311\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.46\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook of Jamie Varley, 36 (left) sits in the dock at Preston Crown Court where he is accused of the murder and sexual assault of 13-month-old Preston Davey in 2023, whilst in he was in the process of adopting the child along with co-accused John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, (right).\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299311.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299311.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299311.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37299311.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Both men denied having a sexual interest in Preston\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Both men denied having a sexual interest in Preston<cite aria-label=\"Image: Elizabeth Cook\/PA Wire\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Elizabeth Cook\/PA Wire)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This interest, Mr Wright said, was \u201cshared\u201d by McGowan-Fazakerley, as demonstrated by the alleged indecent images and videos taken of the infant. Disturbing footage shows Preston spinning fast on a park playground, with his eyes rolling back. Another video shows the baby messing with his genitals, while a third sees him having an apparent seizure on Snapchat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Dr Joanne Gifford, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health&#8217;s clinical lead, referred jurors to footage they&#8217;d seen, including of Preston being \u201cjump scared\u201d when Varley shouts \u201cBoo!\u201d to him while he falls asleep. The child sexual abuse expert, who reviewed evidence in this case, remarked: \u201cThey are hard videos to watch. They are a child having unpleasant experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Varley took a year off from his position as head of year at South Shore Academy, a local high school, to look after the child, while sales manager McGowan-Fazakerley continued to work long hours as a sales manager. The court heard how Varley struggled as a new parent with a baby who woke frequently throughout the night. He allegedly told others he had \u201cdark thoughts\u201d about Preston, who he described as \u201cjust annoying\u201d.<\/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-37163029\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37163029\" 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=\"Pic shows: Preston Davey , a 13-month-old adopted baby boy who was killed under the care of gay couple Jamie Varley, 37, and his boyfriend, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32.\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37163029.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_stg_preston_davey_baby_murder9.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37163029.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_stg_preston_davey_baby_murder9.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37163029.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_stg_preston_davey_baby_murder9.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37163029.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_stg_preston_davey_baby_murder9.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Varley allegedly told others he had 'dark thoughts' about Preston, who he described as 'just annoying'\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Varley allegedly told others he had &#8216;dark thoughts&#8217; about Preston, who he described as &#8216;just annoying&#8217;<cite aria-label=\"Image: Enterprise News and Pictures\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Enterprise News and Pictures)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">At first, McGowan-Fazakerley stood by Varley, but he had since tried to distance himself from his former partner, claiming his trust had been &#8220;misplaced&#8221;. While under cross-examination, Peter Wright KC, prosecuting, suggested that McGowan-Fazakerley had been aware of the horrific abuse.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">McGowan-Fazakerley replied: \u201cI feel as if, to put it in this way, Preston\u2019s life is like an iceberg, and there\u2019s things under the water I did not know about.\u201d He told jurors that he&#8217;d had no reason to believe Varley had hurt Preston and believed he had drowned after Varley told him so while en route to the hospital.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">According to McGowan-Fazakerley, he continued to believe Preston&#8217;s death was accidental, with he and Varley continuing to live together up until they were re-arrested and charged in 2025. The defendant asserted that, after learning of the child&#8217;s injuries, he had tried to be \u201chis own detective\u201d to \u201cput the pieces together\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Wright enquired: \u201cDid you ever interview the prime suspect, sharing a bed with you?\u201d To this, McGowan-Fazakerley responded: \u201cI asked Jamie and he has always said what he\u2019s said.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Mr Wright then remarked: \u201cIt\u2019s only very recently indeed you have now sought to give an account in which you deflect responsibility on your partner. And you are now seeking to distance yourself from him and what happened in your knowledge and assent and participation in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">McGowan-Fazakerley disputed this, stating, \u201cNo. I have always been honest and truthful in every account.\u201d Fazakerley-McGowan was also asked about Varley allegedly telling friend, Janet Gee, about his \u201cdark thoughts\u201d of suffocating or drowning Preston.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ms Whyte asked: \u201cGiven what Mr Varley is alleged to have said about the type of harm, that he disputes, and what the prosecution said about his cause of death, how do you feel about the fact that you were not informed?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">McGowan-Fazakerley replied: \u201cIf these conversations happened, I feel quite, it\u2019s quite a strong word, disturbed, if those conversations happened, why no one has told me about it. I feel heartbroken. She\u2019s got my number. She\u2019s a friend. Why on earth would she not pick up that phone and tell me or tell somebody that Jamie had that conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The defendant was also quizzed about a 14-minute video taken by Varley, showing Preston alone in an empty bath, learning to \u2018self-soothe\u2019. McGowan-Fazakerley claimed he was only made aware of this footage when it was shown to jurors, insisting, \u201cNothing more than just shocking and inappropriate and pathetic. The video makes me very angry. Very angry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Questions were also asked about images of Preston in his cot found on Varley&#8217;s phone, just four days before his death, which stretched over a time period of three minutes and 12 seconds. The seemingly asleep or unconscious child could be seen with his head and arms over the top horizontal bar of his cot, while his neck rested on the bar. His body appeared to be partially suspended, with his legs in a \u201cfrog-like\u201d setting, in what was deemed a \u201cvery unsafe\u201d and \u201cdangerous\u201d position.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">According to McGowan-Fazakerley, he had been cooking Sunday lunch when Carley called him upstairs to look at Preston, supposedly sleeping in this unusual position. He claimed: \u201cI remember seeing him over the bars of the cot with his arms and saying, \u2018Oh bloody heck, what\u2019s he like?\u2019. And saying put him down.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As per the defendant, he only took a \u201cfleeting look\u201d and expected Varley to lay the child down while he continued preparing the meal. It was the prosecution&#8217;s case that the baby had been placed in that position so as to be sexually abused by both men. He said: \u201cIt\u2019s sick. It\u2019s vile, its disgusting, it\u2019s abhorrent, it\u2019s inhuman.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">McGowan-Fazakerley claimed he&#8217;d never suspected Varley, and that he had never sexually assaulted the child. He added: \u201cThat I\u2019m having to have to say those words leave my mouth is ridiculous.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Karen Tonge, of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: \u201cThis has been one of the most shocking and horrific cases I have dealt with in my career.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley had a responsibility to care for and protect baby Preston. They violated that responsibility and 13-month-old Preston was abused with sickening ease. It is difficult to comprehend how the very people who should have loved him could inflict such sickening physical and sexual harm on an innocent child.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;No child should have to go through what Preston went through in the last four months of his short life and I cannot begin to imagine the toll this has taken on those that loved Preston. My thoughts remain with them all.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><em>If you&#8217;ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"www.rapecrisis.org.ukLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rapecrisis.org.uk\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">www.rapecrisis.org.uk<\/a> or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><em>Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/preston-davey-jamie-varley-parents-37279660\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT. John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, and Jamie Varley, 37, have now been found guilty<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5585,"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-5584","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\/2_Jamie-Varley-court-case.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5584","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=5584"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5584\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}