Jamie Varley sentenced to life with no chance of parole for sex abuse and murder of adopted infant

WARNING: Distressing content.

A UK teacher who murdered and sexually abused his adopted infant has been jailed for life with no possibility of parole while his partner has been handed a 25-year jail term.

The sentencing on Thursday capped off a harrowing case of depravity that has shocked Great Britain.

Teacher Jamie Varley, 37, who was convicted 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, was handed a whole life order for what a judge described as the “unremitting abuse” of his adopted 13-month-old Preston Davey.

His partner John McGowan-Fazakerley received a 25-year sentence for his role in the infant’s death after being found guilty of allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.

Sentencing Judge Justice Turner reserved his harshest language for Varley.

“Preston Davey was 13 months old when he was murdered by you, Jamie Varley,” he told the defendant.

“Over the previous four months you and John McGowan-Fazakerley had been responsible for his care.

“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.”

Varley was hurried out of the dock.

The dramatic sentencing came days after the Preston Crown Court heard of the sickening abuse baby Preston was subjected to during the time he spent in the care of Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley.

Four months after being placed with the pair, Preston was rushed unconscious to Blackpool Victoria Hospital but he could not be saved by medical staff.

The pair were captured on CCTV rushing the “floppy” baby to emergency while Varley begged, “Don’t let him die. Please don’t let him die,” news.com.au reports.

Varley then pleaded with hospital staff to “kill me” and wailed loudly, “It’s all my fault” when he was told Preston wouldn’t make it.

After the baby’s death, Varley falsely claimed Preston had drowned in a bathtub, but prosecutors proved his injuries were consistent with his airways being obstructed.

Evidence presented revealed that Preston was routinely ill-treated, sexually abused, physically assaulted and suffered more than 40 injuries at the hands of the couple.

In a tragic revelation, baby Preston had a rough start to life before his death, with court proceedings revealing his birth mother’s history of violent crime.

Sarah Davey was 14 years old when she tortured and murdered 71-year-old Lily Lilley at her home in Manchester in 1999. She spent several years in and out of jail and Preston was sent to foster care when she was sent back to prison.

He was later placed with Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley in April 2023 after the couple completed the required assessment process.

Davey was among those whose impact statements were read to the court before the sentencing of Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley.

She said she now lived with the “unimaginable pain of wondering” what kind of ordeal her son endured in his final months of life.

“Preston should be here today ... instead, he is forever 13 months old,” she said in her statement.

“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.”