Ex-teacher sexually abused and smothered baby he adopted, jury told

A jury at Preston Crown Court has been presented with evidence that a baby boy, adopted just months prior by a former high school teacher and his partner, was sexually assaulted and smothered to death. The child, Preston Davey, was declared dead at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in July 2023, after suffering around 40 traumatic injuries over the course of four months.

Jamie Varley, aged 37, faces charges including the murder of the 13-month-old child as well as 25 other counts relating to sexual and physical abuse. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, is charged with causing or allowing the baby’s death alongside four additional offences. Both men have denied all allegations made against them.

The court was informed that Preston had been a “perfectly healthy boy” before being adopted by the defendants in April 2023. Despite this, within just four months he was admitted to hospital on three separate occasions with various injuries. On 27 July, he was taken to the hospital in a critical state, unconscious and suffering cardiac arrest, dying less than an hour later. The post-mortem examination revealed his death was caused by acute upper airway obstruction due to smothering.

Prosecution barrister Peter Wright KC described the boy’s death not as an accident but as a deliberate act by someone entrusted with his care. He asserted that evidence points to Varley as the person responsible for Preston’s death. It was also disclosed that the child had endured abuse, including external and internal bruises and a broken arm, over several months. Detective investigations uncovered videos on Varley’s phone showing Preston in distress, though Varley did not seek medical aid. The prosecution further alleged that both men were involved in sexual abuse and that McGowan-Fazakerley failed to protect the child while Varley was alone with him on the day of his death

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More