Hospital saw another murdered toddler day before Preston Davey

At the hospital where Preston Davey was taken by his stepfather after a fatal attack, another young child was later killed the previous day.

Thirteen-month-old Preston was sexually and physically abused by Blackpool high school teacher Jamie Varley before his death on 27 July 2023.

Varley’s case sparked waves of public outcry and an independent review is underway into how various institutions acted before his death.

Damion Russell was killed by his father Daniel Hardcastle just weeks after Blackpool Victoria hospital staff failed to question him about old bruises on his head. Blackpool Leader reported, external.

A review by Blackpool Safeguarding Children Partnership said this did not meet “expected practice”.

Hannah Joy Hocking, who is a friend of Damion’s biological mother and helped him through the process, said any investigation should include Damion.

“I saw the news articles about Preston recently and my brain immediately started thinking about Damion,” he said.

Two-year-old Damion was seen the day before the last of Preston’s three visits to the hospital’s Emergency Department.

The court was told the toddler was subjected to a “horrifyingly violent” attack by her father in August 2023.