High school teacher found guilty of murdering and sexually abusing adopted son jailed for life

A high school teacher who sexually abused and then murdered his 13-month-old adopted son has been jailed for life.

Jamie Varley, 37, adopted Preston Davey, at nine months old with his partner, ex-public schoolboy and financial sales manager, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32.

Following a trial at Preston Crown Court, Varley was found guilty of murder, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child, one of distributing an indecent photo of a child, to his co-accused, and one of making an indecent photo.

McGowan-Fazakerley was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.

Preston Davey was placed in the couple's care — Preston Davey was placed in the couple’s care Lancashire Police

On Thursday, Varley was sentenced to a whole of life term, meaning he will die behind bars.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Turner said 13-month-old Preston Davey had faced “unremitting abuse” and neglect before being killed by Jamie Varley during a sex attack.

Turning to Varley, he said: “It was you who did this. You murdered him.

“A whole life order is a sentence of last resort for cases of the most extreme gravity.

John McGowan-Fazakerley was found guilty of allowing the death of a child Lancashire Police

“This is a case of the most extreme gravity. You must stay in prison for the rest of your life. You will never be eligible for parole.”

Varley looked gaunt and sat with his hands folded on his lap, looking straight ahead and made no reaction.

McGowan-Fazakerley was handed a 25-year jail term for allowing the death of baby Preston, as well as sexually assaulting him.

Preston had been taken from his mother, Sarah Davey, now 42, by an emergency care order by Oldham Council.

Ms Davey, aged 14 at the time, had been jailed for the “unspeakably wicked” murder of a frail pensioner in 1998 and in and out of prison since then.

Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley were approved for adoption and at nine months old Preston began living at their home in Blackpool, Lancs in April 2023.

But in the just under four months he was in their care, Preston was routinely ill-treated, had indecent images and videos taken of him, sexually abused and physically assaulted, and suffered 40 traumatic injuries.

Following an eight-week trial a jury spent around 14 hours considering verdicts before it returned to court to deliver verdicts.