Undated handout photo issued by Lancashire Police of Preston Davey. Jamie Varley, is accused of the murder and sexual assault of 13-month-old Preston Davey in 2023, whilst in he was in the process of adopting the child along with co-accused John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, at Preston Crown Court. Issue date: Tuesday April 21, 2026. Varley is accused of murder, manslaughter, 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 is further accused of 10 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 possession of an extreme pornographic image. McGowan-Fazakerley is charged with allowing the death of a child, as well as two counts of child cruelty and one count of sexual assault of a child. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Lancashire Police/PA WireNOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

A teacher accused of murdering his adopted son told a jury he never hurt or sexually abused the child.

Jamie Varley’s voice cracked with emotion at times as he gave evidence from the witness box about the death of 13-month-old Preston Davey in July 2023.

He denied taking indecent photos of the tot as ‘trophies’ or ‘mementos’ of sexual assaults but admitted feeling ‘really ashamed’ and ‘disappointed’ at some of the images he had taken on his phone.

Varley is alleged to have routinely sexually, physically and emotionally abused the baby he had adopted with his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, Preston Crown Court has heard.

Undated handout photo issued by Lancashire Police of Preston Davey. Jamie Varley, is accused of the murder and sexual assault of 13-month-old Preston Davey in 2023, whilst in he was in the process of adopting the child along with co-accused John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, at Preston Crown Court. Issue date: Tuesday April 21, 2026. Varley is accused of murder, manslaughter, 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 is further accused of 10 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 possession of an extreme pornographic image. McGowan-Fazakerley is charged with allowing the death of a child, as well as two counts of child cruelty and one count of sexual assault of a child. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Lancashire Police/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Varley denied taking indecent photos of the tot as ‘trophies’ or ‘mementos’ of sexual assaults (Picture: Lancashire Police/PA)

jamie varley / re: secondary school teacher, is accused of sexually assaulting and murdering Preston Davey, a 13-month-old baby he was in the process of adopting with his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley. / Two men to face cruelty and abuse trial after baby they were adopting dies / ID Richard Marsden
Varley is alleged to have routinely sexually, physically and emotionally abused the baby he had adopted with his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley
After undergoing an assessment and familiarisation process, Preston was adopted and began living with Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley at their home in Blackpool on April 1, 2023, jurors have heard.

But it is alleged in the next four months he was routinely ill-treated, had indecent images and videos taken of him, and was sexually abused and physically assaulted, suffering 40 traumatic injuries found at post mortem.

The court heard Varley, who said he has severe dyslexia, became a design and technology teacher and head of year at a local high school before meeting his partner.

He said: ‘I had always thought about having kids, I wanted to be a teacher, a daddy, just never thought it was possible once I realised I was a gay man.

‘John was everything I had ever asked for in a relationship.

‘My whole life just changed when I met John.’

Varley said the ‘early stages’ of adoption was an ‘eye opener’ and that Preston was not a good sleeper or in a routine.

He added: ‘It was challenging in the sense it was new to us.

‘I felt because I had more experience than John, I felt it was going to be a breeze, but it wasn’t.’

John McGowan-Fazakerley - accused of causing or allowing the death of a child and sexual assault. Varley is also accused of sharing indecent images of Preston. / Two men to face cruelty and abuse trial after baby they were adopting dies / ID Richard Marsden
John McGowan-Fazakerley is accused of causing or allowing the death of a child and sexual assault
Varley was asked to explain a text he sent to his sister about Preston, saying: ‘He’s dead meat’ after a sleepless night.

Varley said: ‘It was just language that I use. In social settings I’m dramatic. Sassy. I just easily throw words about.’

He told jurors he had bonded with the baby better than he expected, as he did not think he could love anything more than his dog, Max, but his love for Preston exceeded that for his pet.

Varley added: ‘When we got the little one, it was special, it was quick, it was strong.’

Mr Johnson then asked Varley about photos of bruises on Preston, who appeared to have a ‘cluster’ of bruises on his forehead, which child sex abuse expert, Dr Joanne Gifford, had described as a ‘red flag’ for signs of abuse.

Varley said the baby, who was learning to crawl, would often bang his head and daily have little mishaps but denied ever deliberately bruising the child.

Mr Johnson asked about a photo of Preston playing naked in a paddling pool which Home Office pathologist Dr Alison Armour said showed a shaded mark on the child’s bottom which resembled a human bite mark.

Mr Johnson said: ‘Did you ever bite Preston’s bottom?

‘What do you say to the suggestion you bit him and took a photo?’

Varley replied: ‘Absolutely not. Could not be more wrong.