Full Breakdown
Preston Davey murder: trial, findings and safeguarding review
6/18/2026, 9:03:08 PM
Event
Preston Davey, born 16 June 2022, died on 27 July 2023 at age 13 months after being taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital in cardiac arrest. A post-mortem ruled death by acute upper airway obstruction, excluding drowning, and recorded 40 injuries, including bruising to the head, throat, mouth, anus, bowel and bladder.
Chronology
Five days after birth Oldham Council placed Preston under an emergency care order; he lived with foster parents Sandra and Paul Cooper for nine months. In January 2023 Adoption Now approved Jamie Varley, a teacher, and John McGowan-Fazakerley, a sales manager, to adopt him, and he moved into their Blackpool home on 1 April 2023. Hospital visits on 25 May, 30 June and 6 July recorded seizures, bruising and a fractured arm. On 27 July 2023 the couple called emergency services, claiming the baby had been left unattended; medics found him dry, unresponsive and later pronounced dead.
Abuse
The post-mortem recorded 40 injuries, including 30 bruises and internal damage indicating forcible penetration and sexual abuse. Police retrieved over a dozen videos from Varley’s phone showing physical and psychological cruelty, such as a clip of Preston in extreme respiratory distress.
Legal
Judge Mr Justice Turner sentenced Varley to a whole-life order, ensuring no parole, and McGowan-Fazakerley to 25 years’ imprisonment. Both defendants denied the charges throughout the trial.
Response & Criticism
The Crown Prosecution Service called the case “one of the most shocking and horrific” it has handled. DCI Andy Fallows called the perpetrators “pure evil”. Children’s Commissioner Rachel De Souza called the murder a “massive safeguarding failure”. Oldham Council announced a child-safeguarding review, noting that medical alerts and social-worker visits did not trigger protective action. The case has sparked a debate on child-protection reforms.
Voices
Mother Sarah Davey said, “Preston should be here today…instead, he is forever 13 months old.” Foster parents Sandra and Paul Cooper recalled his “joyful, smiling” demeanor. Grandmother Debra Davey called the adoptive fathers “a monster”.
Conflicts
Varley claimed the child drowned after a brief bath, yet forensic evidence showed the infant was dry, his hair intact and no water in his lungs, contradicting the drowning narrative. Hospital staff initially deemed bruising non-suspicious, later cited as a systemic oversight.
Quotes
- “Preston should be here today…instead, he is forever 13 months old.” — Sarah Davey, mother
- “It is not often in this job that you encounter pure evil.” — DCI Andy Fallows, Lancashire Police
- “This has been one of the most shocking and horrific cases I have dealt with in my career.” — Karen Tonge, Crown Prosecution Service
- “Preston’s murder is a massive safeguarding failure.” — Rachel De Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England
Next
The Oldham Council review will issue recommendations on adoption vetting and inter-agency communication. Both perpetrators will serve their sentences, with Varley on a whole-life order. The case continues to shape national debate on child-protection reforms.
