There is a real risk of other Preston Davey cases, warns Blackpool South MP Chris Webb
“In Preston’s name, we need to make sure no other child suffers like he did”
Blackpool South MP Chris Webb fears there is a real danger of other Preston Davey-type tragedies unless changes are made.
Mr Webb says there are hundreds of children across the UK at risk of “going under the radar” because they are living outside their ‘home authority’ and not being assigned a local social worker.
He says the only chance of bringing the problem out into the open - and reducing a repeat tragedy of vulnerable children slipping through the gaps - is by holding a national public inquiry into what went wrong.
He is backing calls made by the Blackpool Gazette, sister paper the Lancashire Post and high profile campaigners for a public national inquiry as a matter of urgency.
Preston Davey deserved better. Demand a national inquiry
Preston derved better
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 emotionally abused, and left with 40 non-accidental 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.
Ex-South Shore Academy teacher Jamie Varley, 37, was given a whole life sentence for murder, child cruelty, sexual offences and indecent images relating to Preston. Yesterday he was sentenced to additional seven years for sexually assaulting defenceless Preston after it was missed during his sentencing hearing.
His now ex-partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was jailed for 25 years for allowing the death of a child, child cruelty and sexual assault.
Preston’s birth mother 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.
Sarah, who was in prison when she gave birth to Preston, 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.
Preston was taken into care by Oldham Council and placed for adoption by regional adoption agency Adoption Now. Blackpool’s children’s services had no involvement in his safeguarding.
But the question that 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.
Mr Webb said: “ I call on the Government for a full public inquiry into the Preston Davey case.
“He was such a young boy, with so many years ahead of him. My own son was born in the same hospital to the one where Preston died.
“The system and organisation failed him in a spectacular way and we need a full inquiry to find out what went wrong and make sure it never happens again.
“There are 600 children in care right now who are under the care of other authorities across the UK, who are potentially going under the radar and who could be similar cases to Preston.
“Many councils like Blackpool have children not under local authorities who do go under the radar.
“We need to look into this and ask if a public inquiry is possible so that in Preston’s name, no one suffers like him again.”
Vulnerable children are moved to other areas for a variety of reasons, including a lack of suitable foster homes in their original area.
Calls for a national public inquiry
The Blackpool Gazette, and its sister title the Lancashire Post, backed by Blackpool South MP Chris Webb are leading calls to the government to launch a national public inquiry.
High-profile celebrities including Olivia Colman, David Morissey, Carrie Johnson, Ellie Goulding and Nicola Thorp have joined with The Gazette and Blackpool MP Chris Webb in writing to the Prime Minister calling for a national public inquiry into the 'catastrophic failure' to protect murdered baby Preston Davey.
Backing The Gazette’s petition so far signed by more than 114,000 people, these celebrity campaigners are echoing our calls for Sir Keir Starmer to set up a 'thorough and transparent' public national inquiry into the 'heartbreaking' series of missed opportunities to save 13-month-old Preston.
Calling for urgent action, signatories including the wife of former PM Boris Johnson, global superstar Ellie Goulding, 39, and Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman, 52, say: 'The question that confronts us now is simple: how could this happen?'
The letter is also signed by Sherwood star David Morrissey, an ambassador for domestic violence charity Refuge, and campaigner Paula Hudgell, adoptive mother of Tony Hudgell, who had both legs amputated after abuse by his birth parents as a baby as well high profile campaigner Hetti Barkwood-Nanton, Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge and Laura Trott MP Shadow Education Secretary.
Blackpool MP Chris Webb has also raised the matter directly with No.10 and personally asked the Prime Minister to establish a public national inquiry.
Preston Davey deserved better. Demand a national inquiry
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?
A vigil to remember Preston is set to be held in Blackpool’s St John’s Square the following Monday, July 27, the third anniversary of his death.
We need you to sign this petition and demand the government acts.