'Preston’s life is like an iceberg' - Co-accused claims he didn't know what was happing to 'murdered' baby
The textiles teacher and head of year. also of Chandlers Way, Grimsargh and formerly of Staining Road, Staining, told the same jury days earlier the pair were still a couple.
A man accused of sexually abusing an a baby he trying to adopt has denied trying to “deflect and distance” himself from the boy’s death.
John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, who yesterday told a jury at Preston Crown Court he is no longer with his partner Jamie Varley, denies causing or allowing the death of 13-month-old Preston Davey.
The salesman of Chandlers Way, Grimsargh and formerly of Staining Road, Staining also denies three counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.
His former partner and ex-South Shore Academy teacher Jamie Varley, 37, 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.
The textiles teacher and head of year. also of Chandlers Way, Grimsargh and formerly of Staining Road, Staining, told the same jury days earlier the pair were still a couple.
Preston, a “sweet and bubbly” baby, was placed with the couple for adoption in April 2023 and moved into their Staining home.
During the four months Preston was living at their home in Staining Road before he was rushed to hospital unresponsive, on July 27, it is alleged he was routinely ill-treated, had indecent images and videos taken of him, and was sexually abused and physically assaulted.
Under cross-examination, Peter Wright KC, prosecuting, suggested to McGowan-Fazakerley that he was aware of the abuse of the child.
The defendant said: “I feel as if, to put it in this way, Preston’s life is like an iceberg, and there’s things under the water I did not know about.”
He said after the child’s death, Varley had said he found the baby submerged in the bath, but drowning was later ruled out as a cause of death.
And multiple injuries were found on Preston’s body at his post-mortem examination, consistent with “forcible penetration” and sexual abuse, the jury has heard.
The defendant said he had tried to be “my own detective” to “put the pieces together”.
Mr Wright said: “Did you ever interview the prime suspect, sharing a bed with you?”
McGowan-Fazakerley replied: “I asked Jamie and he has always said what he’s said.”
Mr Wright continued: “It’s only very recently indeed you have now sought to give an account in which you deflect responsibility on your partner.
“And you are now seeking to distance yourself from him and what happened in your knowledge and assent and participation in.”
McGowan-Fazakerley, who denies ever sexually assaulting or abusing the child, replied: “No. I have always been honest and truthful in every account.”
The prosecutor suggested the child was used for the “amusement” of both defendants, which resulted in injuries to the child, his sexual abuse and death.
Mr Wright suggested to the defendant this happened “before your eyes”.
He said: “It’s all a nonsense. You knew that little boy was being sexually assaulted.”
Earlier, the defendant said he still believed Preston’s death was accidental as the couple continued to live with each other up until they were rearrested in 2025 and then both charged.
While on remand in prison, he said he began to “try to put the puzzle together” as he learned what the prosecution case would be.
His barrister Anne Whyte KC said: “Where you are now, do you feel as if your trust in Mr Varley was misplaced?”
McGowan-Fazakerley said: “Yes, I do feel like my trust in Jamie has been misplaced.”
The trial continues on Monday.