Tragedy Strikes: Preston Davey's Vigil Held on Fourth Birthday After Adoptive Father's Murder Conviction
Tonight marks a solemn vigil for Preston Davey, who would have been four, as his adoptive father Jamie Varley has been convicted of his murder and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley found guilty of allowing the 13-month-old's death. The convictions follow a harrowing trial detailing severe abuse, neglect, and the tragic loss of the child. His maternal grandmother had sought to care for him, while a social services investigation is now underway.
A poignant vigil is scheduled to take place tonight, June 16, at 8pm on Preston Flag Market, to honor the memory of Preston Davey on what would have been his fourth birthday. Members of the public are invited to participate by bringing candles, bubbles, and teddies. For those unable to attend in person, the Justice For Preston Davey Facebook group has encouraged lighting a candle at home simultaneously.
Preston Davey was tragically murdered at just 13 months old, having been sexually assaulted and killed by Jamie Varley, 37, a Blackpool teacher and former secondary school head of year. Varley had been in the process of adopting Preston alongside his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32. After a harrowing seven-week trial at Preston Crown Court, Varley was found guilty of Preston's murder, along with grievous bodily harm (GBH), cruelty, sexual assault, and taking indecent images, and 24 other offenses. McGowan-Fazakerley was convicted of allowing the little boy’s death, cruelty, and sexual assault, in addition to three other offenses.
The court heard how Preston was placed in the care of the defendants on April 3, 2023, after they had been approved to adopt through Adoption Now, an agency managing adoptions for councils in Greater Manchester and Lancashire. He had been in foster care since five days after his birth, described by foster carers as a 'beautiful, sociable baby' who was thriving before moving in with Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley at nine months old. In the four months leading up to his death on July 27, 2023, Preston was routinely subjected to physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and had indecent photos and videos taken of him, jurors were told.
Following the convictions, it was revealed that Preston was the son of notorious convicted murderer Sarah Davey, who was jailed at 14 in 1998 for the 'unspeakably wicked' torture and murder of a pensioner. The identity of Preston’s mother was intentionally not revealed to the jury during the trial. Preston's maternal grandmother, Debbie Davey, 66, from Oldham, expressed her family's desire to care for the child, but her wish was unfulfilled due to her diagnosis with breast cancer at the time. She had pleaded with social workers to allow Preston to remain with foster parents until her health improved, a request that was denied. Mrs. Davey, who is now cancer-free, also shared her belief that 'a child should be brought up by a mum and a dad.'
Preston collapsed at the couple's home in Staining Road, Blackpool, while in Varley's sole care. Varley initially claimed Preston had accidentally drowned in a bath. However, a post-mortem examination uncovered more than 40 injuries on his body, along with internal injuries consistent with sexual abuse. His cause of death was determined to be acute upper airway obstruction, suggesting something had been inserted into his mouth, blocking his airway. It was also revealed that Preston had been admitted to hospital three times in the months preceding his death, prompting an ongoing social services investigation.
Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley are due to be sentenced on Thursday, June 18, at 10am.