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Man gets whole-life for killing 13-month-old; accomplice 25 years

6/22/2026

43 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Jamie Varley, 37, received a whole-life prison term for murdering 13-month-old Preston Davey in Blackpool.
John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was sentenced to 25 years for sexual assault, child cruelty and allowing the child's death.
A post-mortem examination showed the child suffered about 40 injuries after four months of physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
Police released video of a smiling Preston Davey while urging the public to remember the child.

History

Historical Context

The 1993 murder of James Bulger by 10-year-old Robert Thompson and Jon Venables sparked national outrage, prompting a 1999 European Court of Human Rights ruling that their adult trial was unfair and a 2000 change stripping the Home Secretary of tariff power, followed by the 2003 Criminal Justice Act’s juvenile sentencing guidelines. Blackpool Police now use those stricter frameworks in the 2024 Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley case.

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Story summary

Jamie Varley, 37, received a whole-life prison term for murdering 13-month-old Preston Davey in Blackpool.
John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was sentenced to 25 years for sexual assault, child cruelty and allowing the child's death.
A post-mortem examination showed the child suffered about 40 injuries after four months of physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
Police released video of a smiling Preston Davey while urging the public to remember the child.

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