Exclusive:Grieving Sarah Davey, Preston Davey's mum, describes her annual tribute to murdered baby boy on his birthday
Speaking exclusively to The Gazette, mum-of-two Sarah described her own tribute to her baby boy and said she will cherish the memories she has from spending time with him before his adoption placement.
The mum of a blue-eyed baby boy murdered by an evil Blackpool teacher has described how she plans to personally honour his memory every year.
Sarah Davey, the birth mum of little Preston Davey says she has been touched by the nation’s outpouring of love towards her ‘forever 13-month-old’ son after his killer and abuser were jailed last week.
Preston Davey deserved better. Demand a national inquiry
The 42-year-old attended the eight-week trial of ex-South Shore Academy teacher Jamie Varley and ex-public schoolboy John McGowan-Fazakerley and was at Preston Crown Court as they were found guilty and branded ‘pure evil’.
Textiles teacher Varley, 37, was sentenced to a whole life sentence and told he will die behind bars for the murder, sexual assault and child cruelty of little Preston.
His now ex-partner and co-accused McGowan-Fazackerley, 32, was jailed for 25 years for the causing the death and sexual assault.
The pair had been in the process of adopting Preston when he died. In less than four month in their care he suffered 40 ‘non-accidential injuries before he was final rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital in cardiac arrest on July 27, 2023.
Despite medics best efforts the baby boy died after a serious sexual assault.
On June 16 this year, when Preston should have been turning four, a vigil was held by well wishers on Preston’s Flag Market.
Hundreds of people turned out to lay flowers and tributes in his memory.
Speaking exclusively to The Gazette, mum-of-two Sarah described her own tribute to her baby boy and said she will cherish the memories she has from spending time with him before his adoption placement.
Pointing to her heart, Sarah said: “My memories of Preston will always be in here.
“I had seven wonderful months where I was able to spend time with him and see him grow.
“Every year since he has passed away I have released balloons on his birthday. This is something I will continue to do every year.”
Preston’s birth dad Gary Nolan said he chose to attend the Preston vigil for a chance to honour his only son, who he never had the chance to meet.
He said: “I’m glad I went. It was nice to see all those people remember Preston.”
The Blackpool Gazette and sister title 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 inquiry into the safeguarding failures that cost Preston his life.
Chris Webb was hoping to bring the ‘Preston Davey deserved better, Demand a nation inquiry’ petition to the attention of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
But before he had chance, Sir Keir announced on Monday, he will quit as Labour leader and Prime Minister.
Sir Keir said he wanted nominations to open on July 9 for the Labour leadership.
Labour’s rules mean getting onto the ballot can be a complex process, with candidates requiring the backing of 81 MPs, 20% of the party’s parliamentary strength.
The Prime Minister said he wanted the nomination process to be completed by the time Parliament breaks up for the summer.
This is likely to mean the parliamentary stage of the contest being completed by July 16, the last day before recess.
Mr Webb said: “The outpouring of support for a public inquiry into the tragic murder of Preston Davey has been overwhelming.
“Our local community and beyond feel strongly that the safeguarding failures surrounding Preston’s death must be investigated.
“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.
“Despite the politics of the week I will be making the case for a public inquiry at the first possibly opportunity.”
Preston Davey was just 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 emotional abused, and left with 40 non-accidential 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.
Vanessa Sims, Blackpool Gazette editor said: “The huge public response to our petition shows the strength of feeling the Fylde coast community and wider has towards what happened to little Preston Davey.
“We must make sure no other defenceless child has to suffer like he did.
“We believe an independent inquiry is the best way of ensuring lessons are learnt.
“If you haven’t already add your voice to the campaign.”
The question that now 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. Demand a national inquiry
What is the petition calling for?
The petiton is calling on a nation inquiry to answer the following questions:
- 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.