A former secondary school teacher has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole for the sexual abuse and murder of his adopted 13-month-old son. Jamie Varley, 37, of Blackpool, Lancashire, was convicted at Preston Crown Court following an eight-week trial that exposed extensive abuse inflicted on the child, Preston Davey. Varley’s partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was also convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the abuse and for allowing Preston’s death.

Preston had been taken from his biological mother, Sarah Davey, just five days after his birth under an emergency care order by Oldham Council, due to her past criminal history and unstable circumstances. Ms. Davey, now 42, who was jailed as a teenager for murder and had spent years in and out of prison, had placed Preston in foster care initially. The baby was reportedly thriving before being adopted by the couple when he was nine months old.

During the roughly four months Preston was in Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley’s care, evidence showed he was routinely physically assaulted, sexually abused, and subjected to neglect. Court proceedings revealed Preston suffered approximately 40 traumatic injuries and had indecent images and videos taken of him. The abuse culminated in a fatal sexual assault at their home in Staining, near Blackpool, in July 2023. When Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley took Preston to the hospital, medical staff were unable to save him.

The judge, Mr. Justice Turner, described the case as one of the most serious of its kind, imposing a whole life order on Varley and stating that he would never be eligible for parole. McGowan-Fazakerley received a 25-year sentence for his part in the child’s abuse and death. The court heard Varley attempted to stage a grieving parent’s response at the hospital, but medical experts found no credible explanation for Preston’s injuries or cause of death. A pathologist concluded that Preston died from acute upper airway obstruction consistent with smothering or insertion of an object.

The case raised serious concerns about safeguarding failures. Preston had multiple encounters with health and social care professionals, including hospital visits for injuries and check-ups, but the alleged abuse was not detected. A child safeguarding practice review initiated by Oldham Council is ongoing, focusing on whether opportunities to prevent Preston’s death were missed.

In a victim impact statement read during sentencing, Preston’s mother expressed profound grief and condemned the couple for their actions, stating she would never forgive them. She emphasized that Preston was “fail[ed] by the very people who were supposed to protect him” and highlighted the lifelong pain she endures.

Law enforcement and child welfare advocates have highlighted the case as an example of the critical importance of vigilance in child protection. Detective Chief Inspector Andy Fallows described Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley as “remorseless” and “monstrous,” while the children’s commissioner for England called it a “massive safeguarding failure” that demands thorough scrutiny. The NSPCC also urged a full review to determine if additional preventive measures could have been taken.

Preston’s foster carers, who had cared for him before adoption, expressed deep sorrow and trauma following his death. The trial’s intensity also affected jurors, with one unable to continue due to distress, leading to the trial being restarted with a new jury panel who have since been excused from further service.