THE torture and sexual abuse little Preston Davey endured before he was killed in a horrific act of violence by his adopted dad is among the worst crimes the nation has ever seen.
While there can never be any excuse for the depraved acts of teacher , one former work colleague believes she knows what drove him to the
Baby Preston Davey, 13 months, was sexually abused and murdered Credit: PA
Teacher Jamie Varley adopted Preston Davey at nine months old with his partner, and was found guilty of abusing and murdering the youngster Credit: PA
The colleague, who we are not naming and who once considered Varley a friend, believes an alleged infidelity by his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley may have been a catalyst for his heinous crimes.
She says: “He’d found out that John had cheated on him and I think he took it out on the baby.”
The couple met on Manchester’s Canal Street in late 2018 and quickly became inseparable.
But during the trial at Preston Crown Court, it became clear their relationship was troubled.
While 37, had taken a year off from his job as Head of Year at South Shore Academy in Blackpool, Lancashire, to look after Preston following his adoption in April 2023, McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, continued in his sales rep job.
Messages between them suggested their sex life as new parents had begun to suffer, with Varley suggesting his partner would look elsewhere for sexual gratification.
Our source says: “I think it was an ongoing affair and Jamie found some messages on his phone.
“I assume it happened in Manchester because that was where John worked. Jamie found out about it and it caused a lot of problems.
Varley was handed a whole life sentence for the murder and sexual abuse of PrestonCredit: Refer to source
The colleague believes an alleged infidelity by his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, pictured, may have been a catalyst for Varley’s heinous crimes Credit: PA
“I think Jamie took his hatred and anger at John’s cheating out on Preston.”
The woman first met Varley around 15 years ago and they shared an office at school.
At first, she found Varley’s life entertaining, describing him as “welcoming” but “a complete and utter drama queen.”
She says: “He wanted to be the centre of attention all the time and acted in a very peevish way when something happened that he didn’t like.
“He was like that annoying friend. He would come round to a house with one drink and say ‘I won’t drink anymore’ and then drink everyone else’s drink. He always encroached. Always.
“He would come into school on a Monday and there was always some kind of drama, always.”
She also recalls one incident when told her he had climbed up a drainpipe of an ex-boyfriend’s house to try to gain entry – but ended up hurting himself when the drainpipe came away from the wall.
She says: “He was trying to spy on him. He hurt his back and asked me to lie to school and say that he was going across a field and had been beaten up. I told him I didn’t want to get involved.
“I know he used to drive past the house of another ex-boyfriend to stalk him and then pretend he hadn’t.”
She says Varley’s behaviour became so boorish that eventually she tired of their friendship.
“It was just complete nonsense from him constantly,” she says. “It was quite annoying but because we were friends you forgave him.
“But towards the end of working at the school I started to tire of him because I couldn’t take his bulls*** anymore.
Preston was found to have suffered 40 internal and external injuries Credit: Lancashire Police
Preston’s birth mother, Sarah Davey, left, outside Preston Crown Court Credit: PA
“He fell out with absolutely everybody. And he was very controlling of John.”
She recalls how the couple went through a “quick” adoption process and how Varley had specifically hand-picked Preston – who was then nine months old at the time – because he was “bonny”.
She says: “The adoption was going through and they were really pleased about it. It went through so quick.
“It sounds awful now but he was allowed to pick through photos and he picked the ‘bonniest boy’. He told me that. And now I think, did you have an ulterior motive for it? I look back on it now and it makes me feel sick.
“Jamie was the one that was pushing most for the adoption. He was the driving force. John was much meeker and seemed to go along with whatever Jamie wanted.
“At the time I was pleased for him because I thought he’s got John and they’re settling down. They had a lovely home too.”
Baby Preston was taken from his mother Sarah Davey – a convicted killer – five days after his birth.
His short life was brutally cut short on July 27, 2023, when he was suffocated by Varley at the couple’s home.
The tot was found to have suffered 40 internal and external injuries when Varley brought him to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, falsely claiming he had drowned in the bath.
A post-mortem revealed the tot had had an object put into his mouth.
Our source recalls how, following Preston’s death and before his arrest, Varley swapped stories with another mutual friend who has a daughter who suffers from epilepsy and falsely claimed that was the reason why Preston had died.
She says: “He would talk about seizures and try to suggest Preston must have it as well. He said ‘I think that’s what happened to him’.”
In June 2025 following a police investigation, Varley was charged with murder, child cruelty, GBH, sexual assault of a child and taking indecent photos or images of a child. McGowan-Fazakerley was charged with allowing a child’s death, child cruelty and sexual assault of a child.
Last month, after an eight-week trial, Varley was given a whole life term and is currently housed in Wakefield Prison – known as “Monster Mansion”. McGowan-Fazakerley was given 25 years for his role in the abuse.
Judge Mr Justice Turner branded them “sadistic” and told Varley: “You will never be eligible for parole.”
Our source says the trial made her see the “full horror” of their actions.
She says: “It’s horrendous. I’m not stupid but when you are friends with someone who you think is a normal person and they end up being convicted of murdering and sexually abusing a baby, it takes a while for the penny to drop.”
She continues: “The only people to blame for Preston’s death are Jamie and John.
“I hope Jamie and John are sat in prison and finally take responsibility for it rather than pretending that they didn’t do it. Preston’s parents deserve to know the truth and so does everyone else.
“They’d better do it quick though because the other lifers will want to get to them both. There’s only so much protection they will be able to give them.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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