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Whole-life for Preston
A UK teacher, Jamie Varley, was sentenced to a whole life order for the murder of his adopted 13-month-old son, Preston Davey, at Preston Crown Court, while his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley was jailed for 25 years for sexual assault and allowing the baby's death.
The BBC said Varley, from Blackpool, told police Preston had accidentally drowned in a bath, but a post-mortem examination discovered the child had suffered 40 injuries.
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Turner told Varley: "It was you who did this. You murdered him."
The BBC reported that a whole life order means Varley will never be released from prison, except in exceptional compassionate circumstances, and that McGowan-Fazakerley was sentenced to 25 years after being found guilty of sexual assault, child cruelty and allowing the death of a child.
Voices in court
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Fallows, who led the murder investigation for Lancashire Police, described the case as something that had "truly shocked the nation" and said Varley was "an evil and monstrous individual who sexually, physically and mentally abused a vulnerable baby for his own sadistic pleasure."
The Independent reported that Children’s commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza called the case a "failure of the state and the safeguarding system" and vowed to find out what had gone wrong.
In a victim impact statement read out on behalf of Sarah Davey, the BBC said she told the court: "Those thoughts do not leave me, they are with me when I wake up".
The BBC also reported that Sandra Cooper, Preston's foster mum, told the court he was "joyful, so content and happy, with sparkly smiling eyes" and that is how they wanted to remember him.
Safeguarding and review
The Guardian said the case has raised questions about whether authorities missed opportunities to save Preston, and it reported that a child safeguarding practice review launched by Oldham council after the baby’s death was paused during the criminal proceedings and has now resumed.
“Catch up on TV bulletins A teacher who sexually abused and murdered his adopted baby boy has been given a whole life order, meaning he will spend the rest of his life behind bars”
The Guardian reported that the independent review will examine the handling of Preston’s safeguarding and the involvement of agencies responsible for his welfare before his death.
The BBC said Preston was taken into care at five days old following an emergency care order by Oldham Council, and it reported that Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley were approved for adoption in January 2023 and Preston began living at their home in Blackpool in April.
In the BBC account of the final days, it said that in the months before his death Preston was taken to hospital three times, and on 27 July he was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital by Varley for the final time, after which he was pronounced dead.
