A heartbreaking case has shocked the United Kingdom after a school teacher, Jamie Varley, 36, and his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, were charged with the murder and sexual assault of Preston Davey, a 13-month-old baby they were in the process of adopting.
Preston Davey, after living in a children’s home, was moved to Blackpool on April 3, 2023, to be adopted by the couple.
Tragically, on July 27, 2023, police were alerted after the baby arrived unconscious at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, where she died.
Jamie Varley, who was head of year at South Shore Academy in Blackpool, faces multiple charges, including:
Murder, Manslaughter, Sexual assault and penetrative assault of a child, Child cruelty, Inflicting grievous bodily harm, Taking and distributing indecent photographs of a child, Possession of images of minors and extreme child pornography
John McGowan-Fazakerley has been charged with causing and permitting the girl’s death, and child neglect.
The case has sparked outrage in England, especially given that Varley held a position of trust at a school.
Following his arrest in 2023, he was immediately suspended, and the Cidari Education Trust, which runs South Shore Academy, has expressed its grief for Preston Davey’s family and is reviewing Varley’s employment status.
Both men have appeared before Lancaster County Court, where the trial is ongoing. The brutality of the crimes and the involvement of individuals in the education sector have sparked a national debate about adoption protocols and child protection.
