Jamie Varley Gets Whole-Life Term for Murdering 13-Month-Old Preston Davey

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 18

A judge ordered 37-year-old Jamie Varley to spend the rest of his life in prison for murdering adopted baby Preston Davey, 13 months, during what the court said was a fatal sex attack.
Forty injuries found in the post-mortem dismantled Varley’s claim that Preston accidentally drowned in a bath, showing four months of physical, sexual and emotional abuse after the child moved in at nine months old.
John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was sentenced to 25 years after being convicted of sexual assault, child cruelty and allowing Preston’s death.
Three hospital visits before Preston died in July 2023 had already raised signs of non-accidental harm, including bruising, seizures and a fractured elbow; prosecutors also cited a video Varley recorded 90 minutes before the child was rushed to hospital.
Oldham Council’s paused safeguarding review will restart, and the children’s minister said independent experts will examine the council, hospital trust and adoption agency over how the case was handled.