Same-sex couple convicted of adopted baby's abuse and murder

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Summary: A jury at Preston Crown Court in England convicted Jamie Varley, 37, of murdering 13-month-old Preston Davey in Blackpool, Lancashire. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was found guilty of allowing the child’s death, sexual assault and child cruelty. The toddler died in July 2023 after four months in the couple’s care. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday.

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A jury at Preston Crown Court delivered guilty verdicts Monday in a harrowing case involving the abuse and death of a toddler placed for adoption in Lancashire. Jamie Varley, 37, a former high school teacher, faces conviction for murdering 13-month-old Preston Davey. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, a financial sales manager, received convictions for allowing the child's death along with sexual assault and child cruelty charges. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday.

Preston entered the couple's care in Blackpool in April 2023 at nine months old, after time in foster care from just days after birth. He arrived described as happy and healthy. Over the following four months, authorities say he endured repeated sexual abuse, physical harm, and neglect that ended in his death in July 2023.

Prosecutors presented evidence of more than 40 injuries discovered in the postmortem, including bruises and internal damage consistent with blunt force. The cause of death involved smothering, with additional findings like a perforated bowel. Evidence included videos from Varley's phone that captured instances of deliberate cruelty, such as playing loud music to prevent the exhausted toddler from sleeping.

Varley initially claimed the boy had drowned in a bath accident. Investigators and the jury rejected that account, viewing it as inconsistent with the medical findings and other proof. McGowan-Fazakerley maintained he had not witnessed harm and trusted his partner fully with the child's care.

The pair had received approval through the adoption process before Preston joined their household. Court details highlighted how the men presented a seemingly stable life, yet evidence painted a picture of systematic mistreatment during the short time the child lived with them.

Detectives described the offenses as among the most disturbing they had encountered, emphasizing the vulnerability of a defenseless toddler entrusted to the defendants' care. The case has drawn attention to the responsibilities involved when placing children in adoptive homes.

This outcome comes after a trial that laid out months of evidence, including medical testimony and digital records. Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley now await formal sentencing in the Lancashire justice system. Preston's brief life ended amid circumstances that no child should ever face, leaving a stark reminder of the need for thorough safeguards in child welfare decisions.

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Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Sources:

BBC: Teacher guilty of sexually abusing and murdering adopted baby

Sky News coverage of the verdicts

Guardian reporting on the case

The eight missed opportunities to save baby Preston

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