A British gay couple tortured their adopted infant to death after the baby sustained 40 injuries in four months

Former teacher Jamie Varley, 37, and his 32-year-old partner John McGowan-Fazakerley have been jailed for the murder and sexual abuse of 13-month-old Preston Davey.

The couple adopted nine-month-old Preston in April 2023 and brought him to their home in Blackpool.

Over the next four months, the child suffered 40 traumatic injuries. He was repeatedly assaulted, sexually abused, and filmed by the men.

Varley was convicted of multiple charges, including murder, grievous bodily harm, and taking indecent photos of a child.

High Court judge Mr Justice Turner sentenced him to a whole life order. Varley showed no reaction to the sentence, though he previously dropped to his knees and retched when the guilty verdicts were delivered.

McGowan-Fazakerley received a 25-year sentence for allowing the death of a child, child cruelty, and sexual assault.

During the sentencing, Mr Justice Turner addressed Varley directly:

"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. 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."

The judge outlined the timeline of the abuse.

On June 15, when McGowan-Fazakerley was late from work, Varley took out his frustration on the child: "You took a video of the chilling act of sleep deprivation and sent it to McGowan-Fazakerley who must have formed a clear view of what you were prepared to do to Preston."

On July 23, Varley took photos of Preston trapped in his cot: "On July 23, 2023, four days before Preston’s death, it was a Sunday and you were both at home.

Jamie Varley took seven images showing Preston draped over the bars of his cot with his neck in direct contact with the bars.

You do not need medical training to realise this was an alarmingly dangerous position.

You John McGowan-Fazakerley witnessed this and rather than laying Preston down to rest took part in a joint sexual assault. His lips were turning blue due to lack of oxygen, forming the basis of the charges of sexual assault."

The fatal attack happened on July 27. Varley filmed the child having a seizure but did not call for help: "I’m sure it was caused by your further abuse. The expert says he must have stopped breathing for 45 seconds or so and seemed to take no breaths for 15 seconds.

He was clearly in need of medical attention and I’m sure the reason you did not seek it because of what you had done to him.

Your abuse that afternoon resulted in further injuries to Preston’s pelvic organs found on post mortem. They were not causative of his death but they show sexual assault."

McGowan-Fazakerley returned home that evening, but it was too late. Preston was pronounced dead in the hospital.

Statements from Preston's biological and foster parents were read in court. His biological mother, Sarah Davey — a convicted killer who was forced to give up the child at seven months — addressed the men in her statement:

"I will never forgive you for what you did to my son and what you stopped him from becoming and achieving in his life. Preston Paul Arlo Davey was perfect from the moment he was born.

The second he was placed in my arms, I fell completely in love with him. He was my baby, my only son, and from that day on I never wanted to let him go. For the first seven months of his life, I was lucky enough to spend precious time with him.

He had the most beautiful smile, one that could light up any room, and the bond we shared was something everyone could see.

Those memories should have brought me comfort—but instead, they are now mixed with pain, because I know what you put him through in his final months. The day he was taken from me was one of the worst days of my life. I had no choice in that decision.

I tried to take some comfort in believing he would be safe, loved, and protected, and he was with his foster parents, Sandra and Paul, I trusted them, they and the system trusted you, that trust was completely and unforgivably broken. Preston was innocent."

Foster parents Sandra and Paul Cooper, who cared for Preston since he was five days old, read their statements in person. Paul Cooper said he still wakes up crying, feeling "like I have lost my own child".

DCI Andy Fallows from Lancashire Police summarized the case:

"Jamie Varley is an evil and monstrous individual who sexually, physically and mentally abused a vulnerable baby for his own sadistic pleasure.

It was this abuse that ultimately led to little baby Preston’s death. I struggle to imagine the horror that Preston endured in his short life. McGowan-Fazakerley did nothing to help Preston and instead committed his own sexual assault against him.

While no sentence will ever be enough for what these truly wicked men did to an innocent child, I welcome those handed down to them today by the Judge.

I hope it gives some comfort to those who loved Preston that both Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley will be behind bars for a significant period of time."