Adopted baby had brilliant life, murder accused tells trial

A teacher accused of sexually abusing and murdering his adopted son has told a court the infant had "a brilliant life" with him and his partner, and his love for the child could "never be taken away".

Jamie Varley, 37, who is accused of routinely sexually, physically and emotionally abusing Preston Davey before his death in July 2023, told Preston Crown Court the 13-month-old was "very much loved".

Preston died nearly four months after he went to live with Varley, and co-defendant John McGowan-Fazakerley, in Blackpool.

Varley denies murdering Preston, and McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, denies allowing his death. Both men also deny sexually assaulting him.

• Warning: The following court evidence contains distressing details

Continuing his cross-examination of Varley on Thursday, prosecutor Peter Wright KC reminded Varley of videos he recorded on his phone of Preston being spun fast on a park playground, his eyes rolling back, eight days before his death.

Wright said: "This little lad was resigned to his fate and it was obvious on his face."

Varley said: "No, this little boy, our little boy, had a brilliant life with us."

The prosecution claim that on 23 July 2023 both defendants sexually assaulted Preston at their home.

Wright said: "He was your plaything, wasn't he?"

Varley replied: "No, he was not. He was our beautiful boy that was very much loved.

"In hindsight, I got some things wrong but he was very much loved and that's something you will never be able to take away."

Wright said: "What really happened that afternoon, Mr Varley?"

The defendant said: "No sexual allegations, as you would imply."

The trial has heard Preston went to live with the defendants on 1 April, but he died in hospital on 27 July after he suffered a collapse and cardiac arrest, allegedly after a sexual assault by Varley.

Wright asked whether Varley's recollection of events on that day had "improved with age".

Varley said: "I do believe I have a clearer understanding of events that took place."

The prosecutor said: "Or is it you becoming aware of physical findings and you have now sought to give a different account?"

Varley said: "No, that day we lost that boy. You forget about that when you put these allegations. I couldn't think clearly or straight."

Wright went on: "I am going to suggest what you have done from start to end, Mr Varley, is you have deliberately sought to mislead everyone in authority about what happened to Preston."

Varley said: "Your suggestion is completely and entirely wrong."

He denied that he and his partner had jointly sexually abused Preston or ill-treated and neglected him.

Jurors have been told that a post-mortem examination of Preston found multiple non-accidental, internal and external injuries.

The cause of Preston's death was found to be acute upper airways obstruction by either smothering or an object or objects inserted into his mouth.

Parts of his anatomy were described as "abnormal", showing clinical signs of sexual abuse.

Wright told Varley: "The reality is you killed that boy."

Varley said: "The reality is very much wrong."

Wright said: "And you did so in circumstances where you are guilty of his murder?"

Varley replied: "No I am not. I am not.

"Our boy was not sexually abused, or murdered, or hit."

Varley denies murder, manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child, one of distributing an indecent photo of a child, to his co-accused, and one of making an indecent photo.

McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, denies allowing the death of a child, three counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.

The trial continues.

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