Jamie Varley, a 36-year-old former teacher from Lancashire, is currently on remand in HMP Preston awaiting trial for the alleged murder and sexual assault of 13-month-old Preston Davey, a baby he was in the process of adopting. His trial is scheduled to begin at Preston Crown Court on 14 April 2026, and is expected to last up to eight weeks. Varley has denied all charges.
Who Is Jamie Varley?
Jamie Varley, 36, worked as a teacher at South Shore Academy in Blackpool, Lancashire, before his arrest. He and his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, were in the process of legally adopting baby Preston Davey at the time of the child’s death in July 2023. Varley has appeared at Preston Crown Court via video link from HMP Preston, where he is being held on remand. He entered not guilty pleas to all 33 charges against him, including murder, at a preliminary hearing in October 2025. South Shore Academy issued a statement following his arrest confirming he had left his role at the school.
Who Was Preston Davey?
Preston Davey was a 13-month-old baby boy who was brought into Blackpool Victoria Hospital unresponsive on the evening of 27 July 2023. Lancashire Police were called to the hospital at 7:15pm, and Preston was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. The circumstances of his death prompted a police investigation that led to the arrest and charging of Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley. The case attracted widespread public attention due to the young age of the victim and the nature of the allegations.
What Are the Charges Against Jamie Varley?
Varley faces a total of 33 charges relating to Preston Davey, making this one of the most serious child death prosecutions in recent English legal history. The charges include murder and manslaughter as alternative counts, two counts of assault by penetration of a child, five counts of child cruelty, one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm, and one count of sexual assault of a child. He also faces ten counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, one count of distributing indecent photographs of a child, two counts of possessing indecent pseudo-images of a child, and one count of possessing an extreme pornographic image. Varley has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Who Is John McGowan-Fazakerley?
John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, also from Grimsargh in Lancashire, is Varley’s co-accused. He is being held on remand at HMP Durham. His charges are different from Varley’s and include allowing the death of a child, child cruelty offences, and sexual offences. McGowan-Fazakerley also appeared in the preliminary hearing via video link and entered not guilty pleas to all charges against him. Both men are scheduled to face trial together at Preston Crown Court from 14 April 2026.
The Trial at Preston Crown Court
The trial of Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley is scheduled to begin at Preston Crown Court on 14 April 2026 before Judge Robert Altham. It is estimated to last between six and eight weeks given the volume and seriousness of the charges. Both men have been remanded in custody throughout the pre-trial period. If convicted on the most serious count of murder, Varley would face a mandatory life sentence. For background on how murder sentencing works in the UK and what a life sentence means in practice, see our guide to the UK Parole Board and crimes and prison sentences.
Background and Context
The case raises important questions about safeguarding and the adoption process. Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley had been in the process of formally adopting Preston Davey when the baby died. The case is being closely followed by child protection advocates and has prompted renewed debate about oversight of adoptive placements. It is important to note that both men are legally presumed innocent and have denied all charges. Readers following the trial should be aware that reporting restrictions may be in place at various stages of the proceedings. If you have a family member currently on remand, our pages on booking a prison visit and sending money to a prisoner explain how to stay in contact during this difficult time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jamie Varley currently in prison?
Jamie Varley is currently on remand in HMP Preston. He has not been convicted of any offence and is awaiting trial at Preston Crown Court, which is scheduled to begin on 14 April 2026. He is presumed innocent unless and until a jury finds him guilty.
What happened to baby Preston Davey?
Preston Davey, a 13-month-old boy, was brought into Blackpool Victoria Hospital unresponsive on 27 July 2023 and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Lancashire Police launched a murder investigation following his death. Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley, who were in the process of adopting Preston at the time, were subsequently arrested and charged.
What charges does Jamie Varley face?
Jamie Varley faces 33 charges in total, the most serious of which is murder. Other charges include sexual assault, assault by penetration of a child, child cruelty, inflicting grievous bodily harm, and multiple offences relating to indecent images of children. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
When does the Jamie Varley trial start?
The trial of Jamie Varley and his co-accused John McGowan-Fazakerley is scheduled to begin at Preston Crown Court on 14 April 2026. The trial is expected to last between six and eight weeks and is being heard before Judge Robert Altham.
What sentence could Jamie Varley face if convicted of murder?
If Jamie Varley is convicted of murder, he would face a mandatory life sentence under English law. The judge would set a minimum term before he could be considered for parole. Given the nature of the alleged victim — a baby — any minimum term set would likely be substantial. He has not been convicted and denies all charges.
