A teacher accused of murdering and sexually abusing the baby he and his partner were in the process of adopting has denied all allegations at Preston Crown Court. Jamie Varley, 37, told the jury that “our son has never, ever been sexually abused” as he began giving evidence in his trial over the death of 13-month-old Preston Davey.
Varley is accused of sexually abusing and murdering Preston on July 27, 2023. Jurors were told a post-mortem examination found the child died from smothering and had injuries consistent with a serious sexual assault. When asked directly by his barrister whether he had killed Preston by blocking his airways, Varley replied: “No, I did not.” He also denied molesting the baby and rejected claims that he had wilfully caused him physical or psychological harm.
The court heard that Varley had no previous convictions and said the indecent videos and photographs taken of Preston were innocent, though he now accepts they were not appropriate. He told the court he had taken pictures and videos “all the time,” and said only a small proportion showed the baby without clothes on. He also described some of the material as harmless moments he had intended to look back on later.
Varley was questioned about messages he sent to friends and family expressing frustration with Preston’s sleep patterns and behaviour. In one message to his sister, he allegedly wrote: “He’s dead meat.” He also described the baby as “very needy” and said he screamed “like he’s being killed.” Varley told the court he used dramatic language and did not mean the words literally.
The teacher also defended leaving Preston to play without a nappy, saying it was something his foster carer had done and that it was referred to as “Free Willy time.” He said he and his partner had taken the advice as a light-hearted approach to childcare and had joked about it at the time.
The court heard that Varley and his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, had met in 2018 and later decided to adopt. The process began in December 2021, was paused, and then resumed in September 2022. They were approved for adoption in January 2023 and accepted as prospective parents for Preston in March 2023. The couple decorated a room for the baby and held a celebration for friends before he arrived in their care.
Varley said parenting had been more challenging than he expected, but denied having second thoughts about the adoption. He also denied bruising Preston deliberately or hiding photographs of bruising. The court heard he admitted he could have been more gentle on occasion, but said he had never intended to cause distress or harm.
Varley denies charges of murder, manslaughter, indecent assault, grievous bodily harm by breaking Preston’s elbow, cruelty, and making and sharing indecent images. McGowan-Fazakerley denies causing or allowing the death of a child, indecent assault, and cruelty. The trial continues.