Trial of ex-South Shore Academy teacher Jamie Varley accused of murdering baby gets underway

The trial of a Blackpool teacher accused of murdering a baby boy he was trying to adopt has got underway.

Jamie Varley, 37, of Chandlers Way, Grimsargh, and formerly of Staining Road, Staining, is set to stand trial at Preston Crown Court.

He is accused of murdering 13-month-old Preston Davey.

Varley, a former teacher at South Shore Academy in Blackpool, is charged with: murder; two counts of sexual assault of a male child under 13; two counts of sexual assault of a male child under 13; inflicting grievous bodily harm; five counts of cruelty to a person under 16; 10 counts of taking indecent images of a child; two counts of possessing indecent images of a child and one count of distributing an indecent image of a child.

He was suspended from his role at the academy following his arrest in 2023, the Cidari Multi Academy Trust said.

Today he appeared in the dock and again entered a not guilty plea to all charges.

His partner and co-accused John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, also of Chandlers Way, Grimsargh, formerly of Staining Road, Staining is charged with: causing and allowing the death of a child; two counts of cruelty to a person under 16 and sexual assault of a male child under 13.

Today he appeared at Preston Crown Court and denied all charges.

The pair were in the process of adopting 13-month-old Preston Davey when he died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on July 27, 2023 after he was brought in unresponsive.

The trial, which was originally due to begin last week, was delayed due to procedural matters and is expected to last between six and eight weeks.