The death of baby Preston Davey was first presented as a tragic bath accident. But investigators would later uncover a different and far darker truth, with mobile phone evidence playing a key role in exposing what had happened.

Preston, just 13 months old, died in July 2023 after being taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital unconscious and in cardiac arrest. He had been living with Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley, who were in the process of adopting him.

Varley claimed that Preston had suffered an accident in the bath. But forensic and medical experts found that the evidence did not support that version of events.

A post-mortem examination concluded that Preston died from acute airway obstruction. The baby also had numerous injuries that prosecutors said were consistent with repeated abuse.

As detectives examined the couple’s phones, they found videos and images that helped build the case. Some of the material showed Preston in distress. Other evidence showed signs that the baby had been harmed before his death.

This digital trail became one of the most important parts of the investigation. It allowed prosecutors to show that Preston’s suffering was not a single unexplained incident, but part of a wider pattern during the months he spent in the couple’s care.

The court heard that Preston had been a happy and thriving baby before he was placed with the pair. After moving into their home, concerns began to emerge, including injuries and hospital visits. Yet the full scale of what was happening was not uncovered until after his death.

Jamie Varley was eventually convicted of murder and a series of child abuse offences. John McGowan-Fazakerley was convicted of allowing Preston’s death, child cruelty and sexual assault.

The case has shocked the UK because of the contrast between the couple’s public image and the reality revealed in court. Varley had worked as a teacher and was trusted by many. But prosecutors said that trust was used as a shield.

For many people, the most haunting part of the case is that Preston’s suffering was documented on devices inside the home. The evidence that exposed the truth also revealed how long he had been failed.

His death has now sparked calls for a deeper review of how adoption placements are assessed, monitored and challenged when warning signs appear.