A disgraced high school teacher is on trial in the UK for allegedly repeatedly sexually and physically abusing a 13-month-old he was in the process of adopting before smothering the baby to death.
Jamie Varley, 37, and his 32-year-old partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, were charged in the July 2023 death of little Preston Davey, who was described by prosecutors as a “perfectly healthy boy” before meeting the couple, BBC reported.
Preston was first placed in the care of Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley in April 2023 when he was just shy of 10 months old.
The couple, hailing from the coastal town of Blackpool, appeared to be “in a seemingly stable and loving relationship” when they were trusted with Preston, according to Prosecutor Peter Wright.
Wright grimly noted that they turned out to be “wholly unsuited to the role of adoptive parents,” which was only revealed when “it was too late” to save Preston.
Preston was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital in late July 2023, just over three months into his stay with Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley, while suffering from cardiac arrest.
He was pronounced dead within the hour. An autopsy, though, revealed his injuries were far more extensive than the cardiac episode.
Preston’s cause of death was linked to acute upper airways obstruction as a result of smothering. He had also sustained 40 traumatic injuries, including 30 external bruises and a fractured arm, Wright said.
He added that bruises on his thighs, later reviewed by medical experts, were “consistent with a slap with an open hand.” Others on his forehead aligned “with a gripping of the little boy’s head,” as reported by The Guardian.
A speedy investigation led authorities to Varley, who was charged with Preston’s murder.
The morning Preston died, Varley captured multiple images and videos of the visibly abused 13-month-old showing clear signs of respiratory distress while lying on a bed, Wright claimed, as reported by BBC.
Another video taken at a separate time showed the seemingly unattended baby “slithering and sliding” around in a bath for almost 15 minutes while Varley silently manned the camera, The Guardian reported.
Varley denied the laundry list of charges against him, including murder, manslaughter, sexual assault of a child, and a staggering 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child.
McGowan-Fazakerley also rejected his charges of allowing the death of a child, three counts of child cruelty, and one count of sexual assault of a child.
Wright said that Varley allegedly committed most of the heinous acts against Preston when McGowan-Fazakerley was at work.
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