A court has heard disturbing allegations against Jamie Varley, who is accused of abusing and murdering a 13-month-old boy he was in the process of adopting with his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley.
The child, Preston Davey, had been placed with the couple in April 2023, but prosecutors say he was subjected to repeated mistreatment, including physical assaults, s3xual abuse and the taking of indecent images. Just four months later, he died in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Jurors were told Preston had around 40 injuries, many believed to be non-accidental. Prosecutors allege he was also subjected to r@pe before his death, claims both defendants deny.
Messages presented in court showed Varley expressing frustration over the child’s behaviour. In one text to his sister, he wrote: “He’s dead meat today,” referring to sleepless nights. In another exchange, he said the baby was “annoying” and admitted the situation had left them “really struggling.”
The court heard Preston had previously been described as a “very happy” baby by his former foster carer, who looked after him for 10 months before the adoption placement.
Medical evidence revealed the child had been taken to hospital multiple times while in the couple’s care, including for a fractured elbow. On July 27, 2023, he was rushed to hospital unconscious. Varley told police the child had drowned in the bath after being left unattended, but a post-mortem found multiple internal and external injuries inconsistent with that account.
The cause of death was determined to be an obstruction of the airway, possibly caused by smothering or an object being forced into the mouth.
Varley denies charges including murder, manslaughter, child cruelty, grievous bodily harm and s3xual offences. McGowan-Fazakerley denies charges of allowing the death of a child, child cruelty and s3xual assault. The trial is ongoing.