A 13-month-old baby boy was “routinely ill-treated, sexually abused and physically assaulted” before being killed, a UK court has heard, in a case described as deeply distressing.Jamie Varley, 37, a former secondary school teacher, is accused of murdering Preston Davey, a child he and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, were in the process of adopting. Both men, from Blackpool, have denied all charges.Opening the case at Preston Crown Court, prosecutor Peter Wright KC told jurors that what initially appeared to be a stable home concealed “a much more sinister reality”.The child, described as a “perfectly healthy boy” before being placed with the couple in April 2023, was admitted to hospital three times in the months that followed.On July 27, he was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital in cardiac arrest but could not be revived.A post-mortem examination found that the infant had suffered around 40 injuries, including multiple bruises, a fractured arm, and internal trauma.The cause of death was identified as acute upper airway obstruction, likely due to smothering or the insertion of an object into his mouth.Wright told the court that the prosecution would present evidence showing the child had been subjected to repeated abuse during his short time in the couple’s care.He alleged that Varley carried out sexual assaults on the day of the child’s death, and that his partner was aware of, and participated in, the abuse.Jurors were warned to “steel themselves” before being shown images and videos recovered from Varley’s phone, which reportedly documented aspects of the alleged abuse.“This was not a tragic accident,” Wright said. “The evidence reveals a much darker and more disturbing truth.”Varley faces multiple charges including murder, manslaughter, sexual assault, and cruelty to a child. McGowan-Fazakerley is charged with allowing the death of a child and other offences. Both deny all allegations. The trial is ongoing.
