'He was your plaything' - Blackpool teacher in baby murder case said Preston Davey had 'brilliant life'

A Blackpool teacher accused of the sexual abuse and murder of baby boy he was in the process of adopting said his love for the child could “never be taken away”.

Ex-South Shore Academy teacher Jamie Varley, 37, is said to have routinely sexually, physically and emotionally abused 13-month-old Preston Davey, who he was adopting with his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, Preston Crown Court has heard.

The infant went to live with the defendants at their home in Staining Road, Staining on April 1 2023, but nearly four months later on July 27 he died in hospital after he suffered a collapse and cardiac arrest, allegedly after a sexual assault by Varley.

Continuing his cross-examination of Textiles teacher Varley on Thursday, prosecutor Peter Wright KC reminded the defendant of videos he recorded on his phone of Preston being spun fast on a park playground, his eyes rolling back, eight days before his death.

Mr Wright said: “This little lad was resigned to his fate and it was obvious on his face.”

Varley said: “No, this little boy, our little boy, had a brilliant life with us.”

The prosecution said on July 23 both defendants sexually assaulted Preston at their home.

Mr Wright said: “He was your plaything, wasn’t he?”

Varley replied: “No, he was not. He was our beautiful boy that was very much loved.

“In hindsight, I got some things wrong but he was very much loved and that’s something you will never be able to take away.”

Mr Wright said: “What really happened that afternoon, Mr Varley?”

The defendant said: “No sexual allegations, as you would imply.”

Mr Wright asked whether Varley’s recollection of events on July 27 had “improved with age”.

Varley said: “I do believe I have a clearer understanding of events that took place.”

The prosecutor said: “Or is it you becoming aware of physical findings and you have now sought to give a different account?”

Varley said: “No, that day we lost that boy. You forget about that when you put these allegations. I couldn’t think clearly or straight.”

Mr Wright went on: “I am going to suggest what you have done from start to end, Mr Varley, is you have deliberately sought to mislead everyone in authority about what happened to Preston.”

Varley said: “Your suggestion is completely and entirely wrong.”

He denied that he and his partner, McGowan-Fazackerley, 32, had jointly sexually abused Preston or ill-treated and neglected him.

Mr Wright said: “The reality is you killed that boy.”

Varley said: “The reality is very much wrong.”

Mr Wright said: “And you did so in circumstances where you are guilty of his murder?”

Varley replied: “No I am not. I am not.

“Our boy was not sexually abused, or murdered, or hit.”

Jurors have been told that a post-mortem examination of Preston found more than 40 non-accidental, internal and external injuries.

The cause of Preston’s death was found to be acute upper airways obstruction by either smothering or an object or objects inserted into his mouth.

Parts of his anatomy were described as “abnormal”, with some injuries consistent with “forcible penetration” and clinical signs of sexual abuse.

Varley, of Chandlers Way, Grimsargh and formerly of Staining Road, Staining denies murder, manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child, one of distributing an indecent photo of a child, to his co-accused, and one of making an indecent photo.

Salesman McGowan-Fazakerley, also of Chandlers Way, Grimsargh and formerly of Staining Road, Staining denies allowing the death of a child, three counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.

The trial was adjourned until Monday.