‘I’ll never forgive you’: Mother of murdered baby Preston Davey tells court ‘part of me died with him’ as adoptive fathers are sentenced

Preston Davey’s biological mother wept in court as she told her son’s adoptive murderer fathers: ‘I will never forgive you’ ahead of their sentencing today.

Jamie Varley, 37, was found guilty this week of the murder of 13-month-old Preston, who was strangled during sexual assault in July 2023.

Her partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, a sales manager at a finance company, was also found guilty of charges including causing or permitting the boy’s death and jointly participating in a sickening sexual assault.

Prosecutors said it was one of the ‘most shocking and horrific’ cases they had ever dealt with.

Today, Preston’s mother – convicted murderer Sarah Davey – read out in court ahead of the couple’s sentencing.

She said her ‘world had ended’ when she found out that her son had died, adding that she now lives with the ‘unimaginable pain of wondering what he went through’.

Preston was born to Davey in June 2022, while he was in and out of prison after being found guilty of the callous murder of a pensioner when he was 14.

He and Lisa Healey, 15, tortured Lily Lilley, 71, by spraying shampoo in her eyes, cutting her with a knife and tying a gag in her mouth.

Davey was taken into the care of Oldham Council five days after giving birth to Preston. He was later adopted by Varley and his partner after spending time in foster care.

Preston Davey, who died at the age of 13 months, was strangled and sexually assaulted

Jamie Varley, 37, (left) was found guilty of murdering Preston and her boyfriend, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, (right) was also found guilty of sexual abuse and being an accessory to death.

Preston was born in June 2022 to Davey (who appeared in court today) while he was serving a life sentence and was in and out of prison after being convicted of murder.

Davey told the court today: ‘I fell completely in love with her the moment she was placed in my arms. “He was my baby, my only son, and from that day on, I never wanted to leave him,” she says.

‘I was lucky enough to spend valuable time with him during the first seven months of his life. She had the most beautiful smile that could light up any room, and the bond we shared was there for everyone to see.

‘These memories should have brought me comfort, but instead they are now mixed with pain because I know what you put him through in his final months.’

He also described the day he was taken from him as ‘one of the worst days of my life’ and sobbed as his statement was read.

‘I had no choice in this decision. “I tried to take some comfort in believing that he would be safe and loved and protected and that he was with his foster parents Sandra and Paul, I trusted them, they and the system trusted you, that trust has been completely and inexcusably broken,” she says.

‘Preston was innocent. He was defenseless. He relied entirely on you, the adults responsible for him, to love him, care for him, and keep him safe.

‘Instead you caused him pain. You took away his chance to grow up, go to school, make friends, live a full life. ‘You took everything from him.’

Preston died on July 27, 2023, after Varley, who was head of year at a comprehensive school and retained leadership, twice sexually assaulted her while McGowan-Fazakerley, an account executive at a financial firm, was at work.

The men took Preston to Blackpool Victoria Hospital; There, doctors tried to resuscitate him for 50 minutes but failed, after which he was pronounced dead at 7.18pm.

Sandra Cooper (pictured), 58, and her husband Paul were Preston’s foster parents and looked after him for the first nine months of his life.

Preston’s biological mother Sarah Davey (42) in murder case with Gary Nolan (43)

Lily Lilley’s body was dumped in a canal after she was tortured and killed by Davey.

The investigation is ongoing to reveal how men were able to realize their distorted fantasies and harm the baby whose adoption was not legally finalized in the presence of social workers.

It is expected to examine whether political correctness or fear of challenging the gay couple played a role in the state’s failure to protect vulnerable Preston.

The court heard the baby was placed in the care of Oldham Council in June 2022, when he was just five days old.

Preston was cared for by experienced foster carers Sandra and Paul Cooper for the first nine months of his life and was then handed over to Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley in April 2023 after undergoing a series of ‘robust’ checks.

Today, before sentencing, Mr and Mrs Cooper criticized Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley for not apologizing or admitting their actions.

She told the court that she and her husband Paul thought the decisions would ‘ease some of the pain’ but said: ‘There was no relief at all.

‘I realize we now have decisions that say there is no admission of guilt or apology from Jamie Varley or John McGowan-Fazakerley, or an admission that ‘we never should have done this’.’

They said that they planned the baby, the 43rd child they adopted during their 27-year caregiving career, to be their last baby in ‘retirement’, but they felt it was their duty to continue their work ‘in memory of Preston’ after his death.

The 58-year-old expressed concern about the men working with social workers after they canceled planned transition meetings and had a “gut feeling” they were hiding from him after Preston came to live with them.

Describing the baby as ‘so happy and content, with sparkling smiling eyes’, Ms Cooper said Preston’s death had ‘changed her perspective’ on life.

‘Paul and I previously thought the best option for all our foster children was to leave us happy and healthy and live with a new, permanent adoptive family,’ she added.

‘We are struggling with this now and I will feel unsafe and anxious about our children leaving our care and living with strangers.

‘I am devastated by his death and struggle when I think about how much pain and torture he went through before he died.

‘Preston was wonderful, happy and lit up any room. We need to remember Preston as he was when he was in our care. He will remain in our thoughts and prayers forever.’

Mr Cooper said Preston was a ‘wonderful little boy’ and was ‘an absolute pleasure’ to care for. He said the couple raised the baby whose smile was ‘contagious’ like theirs.

Preston Davey’s short, tragic life was marked by murders committed first by his mother and then by his adoptive parents.

Sentencing Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley, His Honor Judge Mark Turner.

He said Preston had a ‘little personality’ of his own and ‘thrived’ when they handed him over to Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley.

‘We developed a strong bond with him during the time he was with us (and) it was extremely difficult to say goodbye,’ he said.

‘We believed at the time that this was the best thing for Preston and that he would go to a loving family. ‘I still can’t bear to think about what happened next.’

Mr Cooper said he struggled to sleep, cried every week and found it painful to talk about how ‘his life had been cut short’.

‘Preston had what should have been a happy life ahead of him with a new family,’ Mr Cooper said. ‘I wish we could keep him. I’ll never forget him.’

Statements from Miss Davey and Preston’s father, Gary Nolan, 43, a criminal and drug addict who has never met his son, were also read to the court.

Mr Justice Turner referred to impact statements from Mr and Mrs Cooper and Preston’s biological parents.

He said: ‘The impact of Preston’s death on each of them has been devastating.’

Addressing Varley’s complaints of insomnia and the impact of encouraging Preston on his relationship with McGowan-Fazakerley, Mr Justice Turner told Varley: ‘I am sure your growing and selfish resentment towards Preston played at least some part in your motivation to treat him so badly in the months that followed.’

He added: ‘I have no doubt that your professional background as a teacher played a part in reassuring social workers that everything was OK when it clearly wasn’t.’

The judge said that the photos and videos taken by Varley were ‘treason, unhealthy and there was constant attention to his private parts’. As the weeks went by the content became increasingly worse.