Birth mum of murdered Blackpool baby Preston Davey was convicted of killing pensioner at 14

The birth mother of a baby murdered by a Blackpool teacher was convicted of killing a pensioner when she was just 14.

Sarah Davey, is the birth mum of 13-month-old Preston Davey, who was murdered by ex-South Shore Academy teacher Jamie Varley.

Today, Sarah was in court to watch Varley, of Chandlers Way, Grimsargh and formerly of Staining Road, Staining be found guilty of her son’s murder and his abuser John McGowan-Fazakerley, also of Chandlers Way, Grimsargh and formerly of Staining Road, Staining found guilty for allowing his death.

The pair had been in the process of adopting baby Preston when he died. He suffered more than 40 trauma injuries, internally and externally, including tears and lacerations, with “in excess” of 30 ‘non-accidential’ bruises across his body. He had only been in the care of the couple less than four months when he died.

Sarah Davey, now 42, was just 14 years old when she and her friend — then known as Lisa Healey — were convicted of torturing 71-year-old widow Lily Lilley of West Street, Failsworth in 1998.

A court heard the pair, from Failsworth befriended the pensioner, but once in her home, they cut her legs with a knife and gagged her, which forced her dentures down her throat, suffocating her.

They then put her body into a wheelie bin and dumped it in Rochdale Canal, where it was found three days later.

The teenagers then spent their victim’s pension on crisps and sweets.

The pair were both sentenced to a minimum of eight years in prison.

Sarah has been released on licence numerous times since her first release in March 2013 but has been recalled for breaching the terms of her licence.

At the time of Preston’s birth she was in Styal Women's Prison again awaiting a parole hearing.

Due to the prison status and the chance of parole uncertain, Preston was taken into care at six days old by Oldham Council with the prospect of adoption.

Oldham Council works with regional Adoption Now to find placements for children in their care. It was through Adoption Now Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley were matched with innocent Preston.

Davey was released from Styal Women's Prison on parole after learning of her son’s death.

Sarah hoped her mum, Preston’s maternal nanna, Debora, would be able to care for him in her absence, but she was unwell and deemed not fit enough to care for a young child.

Preston was taken in by a loving foster family in Manchester - where he remained until he was nine-months-old.

He was then moved to Blackpool on April 3, 2023 and on July 27 the tot was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital 'in cardiac arrest' and sadly died a short time later.

In a last show of love, Preston's nanna Debora organised for her grandson to be baptised at Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

After being notified of Preston's death Lancashire Police launched a murder investigation.

Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley were later arrested.

In the week following the baby boy's death, police and CSI set up a crime scene investigation at the couple’s home in Staining Road, near Newton Hall Holiday Park.

For 10 days, forensics worked at the address and gathered evidence – including the toddler’s cot – which was taken away for examination.

Today the pair were both found guilty at Preston Crown Court of all charges.

Varley, a former South Shore Academy teacher has been found guilty of murder, 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.

McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, has been found guilty of allowing the death of a child, three counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.

The pair will now be sentenced on Thursday.