The grandmother of baby Preston Davey has branded his murderer 'evil' and 'sick in the head' after a guilty verdict was delivered at Preston Crown Court. Jamie Varley, a 37-year-old teacher, was found guilty of murdering the 13-month-old child.
Convictions and Details of Abuse
Varley's partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was also convicted of allowing the death of the child. Preston had been placed with the couple in April 2023 for adoption. Just four months later, on July 27, the infant was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital unconscious and in cardiac arrest, where he died.
During the four months Preston was in their care at their home in Blackpool, the court heard he suffered 40 traumatic injuries, including indecent images and videos being taken of him, sexual abuse, and physical assault.
Grandmother's Emotional Response
Debra Davey, 66, expressed her devastation, saying: 'I’ve had some bad things happen in my life, but this is by far the worst.' She revealed she was present at Preston's birth in Wythenshawe and had planned to help care for him, but was diagnosed with breast cancer the day after he was born, preventing her from taking him in.
Debra admitted she had a 'gut feeling' about the adoption and disagreed with it. She became 'hysterical' upon hearing of Preston's death and criticized the police for the lengthy investigation: 'It went on for two years. I used to argue with them all the time, why aren’t they in custody?'
Call for Justice
Speaking about Varley, Debra said: 'It’s killing me. It’s disgusting. He should never see the light of day again. Varley, he’s not right in the head, he just looks evil, the things he’s done. Things no-one would think of doing, he’s sick in the head.'
It also emerged that Preston's mother, Sarah, had a prior conviction for torturing a grandmother and dumping her body in a canal when she was 14. Debra noted that her daughter was worried about this resurfacing, but Debra insisted: 'It’s all about Preston, it isn’t about her.'
