Teacher Charged with Abuse and Murder of 13-Month-Old Adopted Child.

Preston Davey

A 36-year-old teacher, Jamie Varley, has appeared in court facing multiple serious charges, including the sexual abuse and murder of 13-month-old Preston Davey, a child he was in the process of adopting.

Varley, who previously taught at South Shore Academy in Blackpool, is also accused of several counts of assault, child cruelty, and offenses relating to indecent images of children. The charges span a period between March and July 2023 and are all connected to the toddler.

Appearing at Lancaster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, June 13, Varley spoke only to confirm his name during a brief five-minute hearing. He faces charges including:

• One count of murder

• One count of manslaughter

• Two counts of assault by penetration of a child

• Five counts of child cruelty

• One count of inflicting grievous bodily harm

• One count of sexual assault of a child

• Ten counts of taking indecent photographs of a child

• One count of distributing indecent images

• Two counts of possessing indecent pseudo-images

• One count of possessing an extreme pornographic image

District Judge Richard Thompson read the charges aloud and asked Varley to confirm his understanding. Varley nodded in response. He was remanded in custody and will next appear before Preston Crown Court on Monday, June 16.

His co-accused, 31-year-old John McGowan-Fazakerley, who was also in the process of adopting Preston, appeared in a separate hearing. He faces charges of:

• Allowing the death of a child

• Two counts of child cruelty

• One count of sexual assault of a child

McGowan-Fazakerley, dressed casually in jeans and a patterned sweatshirt, also confirmed his identity before being remanded in custody.

The investigation began after emergency services were called to Blackpool Victoria Hospital on July 27, 2023, where the infant was brought in unresponsive. Preston was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Varley was suspended from his teaching role at South Shore Academy following his arrest. The school is currently managed by the Cidari Multi-Academy Trust, which confirmed the suspension.

Both men, residents of Grimsargh near Preston, will face further proceedings at Preston Crown Court.