A 13-month-old boy, Preston Davey, died in July 2023 after suffering prolonged abuse while in the care of his adoptive parents, Jamie Varley, 37, and John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32. Following an eight-week trial at Preston Crown Court, Varley was convicted of Preston’s murder, multiple counts of assault including sexual assault, grievous bodily harm, and cruelty. McGowan-Fazakerley was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, child cruelty, and sexual assault. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday.

Preston, born in June 2022, was removed from his biological mother, Sarah Davey, who was incarcerated for a 1998 murder committed when she was a teenager. Due to medical and criminal history complications within the family, Preston was initially placed with foster carers for ten months before being adopted by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley on April 1, 2023.

During the four months Preston lived with the couple in Blackpool, he was admitted to hospital on multiple occasions for unexplained injuries and symptoms, including bruising, fractures, seizures, vomiting, and breathing difficulties. Despite these visits and notifications to social services and hospital safeguarding teams, Preston was repeatedly returned to their care. Social workers and an independent reviewer visited the adoptive home but reported no concerns. Preston’s grandmother, Debbie Davey, has publicly criticized the agencies involved, calling for accountability and suggesting that fears of accusations of homophobia may have hindered proper intervention.

Medical evidence presented at trial detailed that Preston died from suffocation caused by an object inserted into his mouth, accompanied by over 40 internal and external injuries consistent with physical and sexual abuse. Surveillance and digital evidence showed Varley subjecting Preston to violent and neglectful treatment, including videos of the child being spun forcefully on playground equipment and struggling in the bath. Varley also took indecent photographs of the child and shared disturbing images online.

Witness testimony and phone records revealed a turbulent relationship between the adoptive parents, with Varley expressing resentment toward McGowan-Fazakerley for work-related absences that left him alone to care for Preston. Despite signs of struggle and Varley’s admissions of “dark thoughts” about harming the child, McGowan-Fazakerley was deemed by police to have failed to protect Preston.

The adoptive couple had previously presented a stable, middle-class lifestyle and had convinced authorities they were suitable adoptive parents, supported by social media portrayals. However, the trial exposed significant failures in child safeguarding systems, as Preston’s repeated hospitalizations and injuries did not prompt decisive protective action. Following the verdicts, child safety campaigners emphasized the need for systemic reviews to prevent similar tragedies. Oldham Council, responsible for placing Preston, stated that no staff disciplinary actions have been taken yet but confirmed an independent safeguarding review is ongoing.

The case has raised broader questions about the oversight of adoption placements, particularly concerning same-sex couples, as well as the adequacy of training for social workers and medical professionals in detecting and responding to abuse. Preston’s biological grandmother expressed deep regret and frustration, highlighting that she was unable to care for him due to illness and that the family’s attempts to keep Preston with his foster carers were denied.

Both convicted men await sentencing, with the court expected to consider the extensive and severe nature of the abuse in determining their penalties.