Rapper Youngblood pens heartbreaking tribute to baby Preston Davey murdered by killer Blackpool teacher
A talented Blackpool rapper has written a tender tribute to murdered baby boy Preston Davey.
A Blackpool rapper has penned a heartbreaking tribute to murdered tot Preston Davey.
Little Preston was only 13-months-old when he died after weeks of abuse from Blackpool teacher Jamie Varley.
This month 37-year-old Varley, who taught at South Shore Academy, was told he would die in prison for the sexual abuse and murder of Preston.
His boyfriend John McGowan-Fazakerly was sentenced to 25 years for allowing the death of a child, child cruelty and sexual assault.
Preston’s abuse and murder created headlines and outrage throughout the world with vigils held in the little boy’s memory.
Now hip hop artist YoungbloodRap has recorded his own tribute to Preston.
The 33-year-old artist - whose real name is Jamie Hardman - first came under the spotlight a decade ago when performing under the name YoungBlood, he was named as one one of the UK’s top up and coming rap stars.
Sadly, his musical career stalled after a family death sent him spiraling into mental health problems.
In his musical tribute to the murdered tot, Jamie highlights how Preston’s suffering was overlooked for so long by people in authority.
He said: “This Preston Davey case has really got to me, you know?
“So, I thought I should do this song, just to pay my respects to Preston.”
His tribute includes the verses:
Preston Davey, I say your name with pain inside of my chest,
A child who needed safety, love and protection and the best,
You came into the world so pure, the soul that should’ve shined.
The one who should’ve saved you, somehow left you behind,
Every child needs a home where they sleep and feel secure,
Not a place where cries are hidden behind a closed door.
Jamie said his song reflects the belief that if help had been available, “Preston would still be here”.
He added: “May his soul be resting with the angels.”
In March, a catchy song by Jamie and rap partner IamSoul about their hometown of Blackpool was praised by MP Chris Webb.
The member for Blackpool South hailed the track entitled Dumping Ground despite its negative lyrics about the resort.
One line of the song said: “This is the dumping ground, where they hide what they can’t show, just a mile from the lights in the black row, you see the shine when the tourists come round, but I grew up in the shadow of this dumping ground.”
Jamie explained: “We’re not trying to create a negative view of the town. We’ve both had our struggles and our ups and downs—but we want to send out a message that people can create something positive from difficult times. Music is our way out.”
The pair auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent at Blackpool with an earlier song, Happy Place, but were turned down because they “didn’t fit the criteria.”
Preston Davey deserved better. Demand a national inquiry
The Blackpool Gazette, and the Lancashire Post, backed by Blackpool South MP Chris Webb are leading calls to the government to launch a public national inquiry.
Music icon and campaigner Ellie Goulding has lent her support to the campaign alongside fellow campaigner Carrie Johnson, wife of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Coronation Street actress Nicola Thorp, Child Cruelty Offender Register campaigner Paul Hudgell and campaigner Hetti Barkworth-Nanton. Hetti is widely recognised for her work in supporting victims of domestic abuse, receiving a CBE in the 2024 New Year Honours and a Pride of Britain Award in 2024.
As well as signing the petition all of the prominent figures have shared Preston’s tragic story in a bid to encourage Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to agree to a national inquiry into the safeguarding failures that cost a ‘happy and bubbly’ baby boy his life.
Blackpool MP Chris Webb has also raised the matter directly with No.10 and personally asked the Prime Minister to establish a public inquiry.
Vanessa Sims, editor of the Blackpool Gazette, said: “The magnitude of the impact little Preston’s case has had on the nation should not be underestimated.
“He has touched the hearts of so many people. I have even had messages from as far as the USA about Preston and the impact it has had on people there.
“One thing is very clear. Preston deserved better. Getting a public national inquiry will ultimately help us to protect all those children who come after Preston. This call is not about blame but about making sure lessons are learnt.
“If you haven’t added your voice to the petition, please do it today.”
What is the petition calling for?
The petition 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.