Preston Davey deserved better. Blackpool Gazette joins with MP Chris Webb to demand a national inquiry
The question that has to be asked - and answered - is how a baby boy in the care of the state could be so badly let down by every system designed to protect him.
Preston Davey was 13-months-old when he was murdered by the man who was in the process of adopting him. The man he came to know as ‘dad’.
In less than four months, little Preston was sexually assaulted, physically and emotionally abused, and left with 40 non-accidental injuries. He was taken to hospital three times. Social workers visited regularly. His abusers even admitted to having dark thoughts about him. And still, nothing stopped it.
Jamie Varley, 37, was given a whole life sentence for murder, child cruelty, sexual offences and indecent images relating to Preston. His now ex-partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was jailed for 25 years for allowing the death of a child, child cruelty and sexual assault.
But the question that has to be asked - and answered - is how a baby boy in the care of the state could be so badly let down by every system designed to protect him.
Preston Davey deserved better.
The Blackpool Gazette and the Lancashire Post, backed by Blackpool South MP Chris Webb and Preston's birth parents Sarah Davey and Gary Nolan, are calling on the government to launch a national public inquiry into the safeguarding failures that cost Preston his life.
Chris Webb, Blackpool South MP said: “Today's sentencing won’t bring Preston Davey back.
“This little boy should have been safe, loved and protected but was instead subjected to unimaginable cruelty by those entrusted with his care. I am pleased these despicable individuals have been served the sentences they deserve – they should never be allowed to walk free.
“As a father of a young child myself, I find this case almost impossible to comprehend. It’s heartbreaking and deeply disturbing to read the details of what Preston endured and the number of opportunities there were for intervention.
“Every instinct says somebody should have stepped in and saved him.While those responsible are facing justice, there are fundamental questions that remain unanswered. Why were repeated warning signs missed? Where was the oversight of his care? Why did the systems designed to protect him fail so catastrophically?
“Preston deserved better and I fully support Blackpool Gazette and Lancashire Post's call for a public inquiry into the safeguarding failures surrounding Preston's death.
“We owe it to him and every vulnerable child in this country to establish exactly what went wrong and what must change to ensure this never happens again.
“I will be taking this case directly to the Prime Minister when I return to Parliament on Monday.
“We can’t allow this tragedy to be treated as an isolated case. There needs to be accountability, transparency and lessons learned.In his memory we must secure the justice Preston deserves beyond today's sentencing and ensure this never happens again.”
Speaking after today’s sentencing, Preston’s birth mum Sarah Davey said: “A public inquiry would mean everything to us.
“The safeguarding put in place for Preston was clearly not enough. It was a tick box exercise.
“I stand with The Gazette in calling for a national inquiry to ensure lessons are learned after what happened to Preston.”
Gary Nolan, Preston’s birth dad said: “We need to ensure this doesn’t happen to any other child in the future. We also need to know it hasn’t happened again since Preston’s death.
“I fully back The Gazette’s campaign for a national inquiry.”
We need answers. Specifically:
- Why were repeated warning signs - three hospital admissions, an abuser's own admission of dark thoughts, routine social worker contact - not acted on?
- Should children placed outside their home authority automatically be assigned a local social worker with direct oversight of their care?
- How are repeat hospital admissions for children in care shared between the NHS, the placing authority, and the authority where the child lives?
- Are adoption vetting procedures rigorous enough to stop prospective adopters hiding behind a false front?
We need you to sign this petition and demand the government acts.
Every child who comes after Preston deserves better too.