Two men have been found guilty of all charges following the death of baby Preston Davey. At Preston Crown Court on Monday, June 15, Jamie Varley, 37, was convicted of murder, sexual assault of a child under 13, inflicting grievous bodily harm, five counts of child cruelty, and making, taking, and distributing indecent images. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty, and sexual assault of a child under 13.
Timeline of Events
June 16 and 21, 2022: Preston is born at Wythenshawe Hospital. Five days later, he is placed into emergency foster care. For the first nine months of his life, foster carers and health professionals describe him as a healthy, happy, and bubbly baby.
March 23, 2023: An adoption panel officially clears teacher Jamie Varley and his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, to adopt Preston.
March 31, 2023: Preston spends his first night at the couple's home in Blackpool. Varley takes a year off work to look after him full-time but quickly begins messaging friends saying he is struggling to cope and finds the baby annoying.
Mid-to-late April 2023: Varley records the first digital videos of Preston. Recovered phone data from April 23 and 25 reveals physical bruising to the infant's head alongside the first recorded instances of sexual abuse.
May 11, 2023: At 9.43pm, McGowan-Fazakerley calls 999 but hangs up after four seconds; Varley can be heard in the background saying 'put it down.' They later claim it was an error. At 10.16pm, McGowan-Fazakerley calls the non-emergency 111 line claiming Preston has breathing and head-control issues, but they fail to answer a medical callback and seek no treatment.
May 25, 2023: Varley takes Preston to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, claiming the baby had breathing difficulties and a seizure. Safeguarding teams assess Preston, but medical staff say there are no immediate signs of non-accidental injury. Phone images reveal distinct head bruising.
July 6 and 10, 2023: On July 6, Preston is brought to the hospital with a fractured elbow; Varley claims it happened while lowering him into his cot. On July 10, Varley sends a text to his partner saying, 'Your son's in hospital. I strangled him,' followed a minute later by 'Jokes. Just give me a call when done.'
July 27, 2023: Preston is rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital unconscious and in cardiac arrest. Medics are unable to revive him. Varley tells police he accidentally left Preston in the bath for a few minutes and found him submerged, but medics note the child's hair is dry and the bathtub at home is empty.
April 20, 2026: The criminal trial against Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley opens at Preston Crown Court. The prosecution presents post-mortem examination evidence showing 40 traumatic injuries and rules out drowning, establishing the cause of death as acute upper airway obstruction (smothering/suffocation).
June 15, 2026: Following a seven-week trial, the jury returns unanimous verdicts. Varley is found guilty of murder, child cruelty, and child sexual abuse. McGowan-Fazakerley is found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child, child cruelty, and sexual assault.
