Detective says murdered baby Preston Davey was 'a very happy, smiley, adorable young child' before abuse

The officer who spent three years seeking justice for a 13-month-old baby murdered by a teacher who was in the process of adopting him said before the abuse “he was a very happy, smiley, adorable young child.”

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Fallows, of the Force Major Investigation Team, drove the police inquiry that led to ex-South Shore Academy teacher Jamie Varley, 37, being found guilty of the murder of 13-month-old Preston Davey.

Prior to his fatal placement with Varley and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, who was also found guilty of allowing the death of a child was in a loving foster placement.

The youngster lived with the pair at their home in Staining Road, Staining for less than four months before his death.

A post mortem examination confirmed he had suffered 40 trauma injuries, internally and externally, including tears and lacerations, with “in excess” of 30 ‘non-accidential’ bruises across his body.

DCI Fallows said: “He had wonderful foster parents.

“I think that the nine months in Sandra and Paul's care had been happy ones.

“Preston was a happy, loveable child that was deeply cared for. Throughout that period Sandra and Paul have been very invested and obviously kept a keen eye on things and are deeply upset as to what has happened to Preston.

“They described him as a loveable character and I think from the images you can see there's a sparkle in his eye around that time. He was a very happy, smiley, adorable young child. “That's something very different to the images you see towards the back end of his life.

“You've heard evidence from the experts in terms of Joe Gifford in relation to child abuse and frozen watchfulness, I think was the term that was used and you could just say in those photographs a different child that's looking back at the camera and that is really sad to see.”

Preston’s biological family was not part of the investigation, as it focused on what happened to Preston once he was placed for adoption in Blackpool.

But touching on the support they have received, DCI Fallows said: “They're not part of the evidence chain, so I think it is probably inappropriate to talk about them too much other than to say that we've engaged with both Preston's biological parents, they have been supported throughout this.

“Naturally they are devastated to know that a child they've brought into the world could be treated in such a cruel way.

“They have been present throughout the trial and have continued to be supported by specially trained officers.”

Today 37-year-old ex-South Shore Academy teacher Jamie Varley, of Chandlers Way, Grimsargh and formerly of Staining Road, Staining was convicted of the murder of 13-month-old Preston Davey after a 6 week trial at Preston Crown Court.

He was also found guilty of 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.

His partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, also of Chandlers Way, Grimsargh and formerly of Staining Road, Staining was 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.