The horrific past of Baby Preston’s mother – tortured and killed pensioner at age 14 | UK | News
The murder of Preston Davey (pictured) shocked the country. (Image: Lancashire Police/PA Wire)
Sarah Davey, the biological mother of murdered 13-month-old baby Preston Davey, was in court this week to watch the sentencing of her son’s killer, who himself had previously served prison time for a horrific, unrelated crime. Secondary school teacher Jamie Varley, 37, was sentenced to life imprisonment at Preston Crown Court for the murder and sexual abuse of Preston, whom he and his partner, former public student and financial sales manager John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, were in the process of adopting.
McGowan-Fazakerley was also sentenced to 25 years in prison for allowing Preston’s death and sexually assaulting him in July 2023, after he was convicted by a jury on Monday (June 15) following an eight-week trial at Preston Crown Court. The court previously heard that during the four months he was in their care, Preston was routinely mistreated, had indecent photographs and videos taken, was sexually harassed and physically assaulted, and suffered 40 traumatic injuries.
Jamie Varley (Image: Lancashire Police/PA Wire)
John McGowan-Fazakerley (Image: Lancashire Police/PA Wire)
Preston was taken from his mother Sarah Davey, now 42, under an urgent care order from Oldham Council. The baby was initially in foster care and is said to be doing well before being taken in by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley.
Ms Davey, who said she would “never forgive” the two men for their sickening crimes, also spent time behind bars.
He was previously sentenced to a minimum of eight years and one day in prison for the brutal murder of lonely 71-year-old widow Lily Lilley in Oldham, Failsworth, in September 1998.
Davey, along with her friend Lisa Healey, then 15, befriended the frail retiree grandmother of three at local shops.
Lily invited them to her house for a cup of tea, and the pair brutally tortured her by spraying shampoo in her eyes, cutting her with a knife, and tying a gag in her mouth so tightly that her false teeth fell down her throat, choking her to death.
They then stuffed his lifeless body into a bin and marched him through the streets, laughing and giggling, before dumping him in the Rochdale Canal.
After the murder they made hundreds of calls on his phone, used his pension money to buy chips and chocolates and trashed his house.
Preston Davey’s biological mother Sarah Davey (left) outside Preston Crown Court (Image: Dave Nelson/PA Wire)
The crime was described by the trial judge, Mr Justice Sachs, as “unspeakably evil”. According to the Parole Board, Ms Davey was released and recalled to prison three times.
In the latest incident, he was released in August 2021, but was recalled to custody on November 2, 2021, for an unspecified violation of his release conditions. During this period, she became pregnant with Preston.
Ms Davey, now 42, participated in part of the Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley trial. Conditions for release from current custody include license conditions, good behavior, disclosure of relationships and enhanced drug monitoring.
Following Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley’s sentencing, a spokesman for Adoption Now, a company that provides services to local councils and certified the two men as prospective adoptive parents, said: “This was an extremely distressing incident and our thoughts are with everyone affected by these truly horrific crimes.
“Adoption follows a strict and rigorous process in accordance with all legislation and guidance regarding the assessment and approval of adopters. An Independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review is being completed.”
An Oldham Council spokesman said the local council was grateful that the “perpetrators of the sickening murder and abuse of an innocent child” were facing justice.
They also added that the review was ongoing “which will examine how Preston’s security was handled”.
