PRESTON DAVEY CASE — 40 TRAUMATIC INJURIES AND A TIMELINE THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

The case of 13-month-old Preston Davey revealed a devastating pattern of abuse during the four months he was in the care of Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley.

A Home Office postmortem found 40 traumatic injuries, including at least 30 external bruises, internal injuries and a healing fracture to Preston’s left arm that was determined to be non-accidental.

THE FINAL WEEKS

Preston was taken to hospital three times before his death.

On July 6, he was treated for a fractured arm. Investigators later found that Varley had given different explanations for how the injury occurred.

Police and safeguarding professionals had also been involved earlier in Preston’s care, but concerns about non-accidental injury were not ultimately established at those stages.

Then came the final days.

On July 24, 2023, Varley recorded footage showing Preston distressed while in the bath. Three days later, at 4:45 p.m., Varley recorded another video showing Preston struggling to breathe.

Later that evening, Preston was taken to hospital unconscious and in cardiac arrest.

THE BATH STORY

Varley told medical staff that Preston had accidentally ended up submerged in a bath.

But the medical evidence did not support drowning.

Preston arrived at hospital completely dry, and the postmortem concluded that his cause of death was acute upper-airway obstruction.

Prosecutors argued that Varley had caused the obstruction.

 WHAT THE COURT DECIDED

After a seven-week trial, Jamie Varley was convicted of murder and multiple child-cruelty and sexual offences.

His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, was convicted of allowing a child’s death, child cruelty and sexual assault.

On June 18, 2026, Varley received a whole-life order, meaning he will remain in prison for the rest of his life without parole. McGowan-Fazakerley received a 25-year sentence.

 THE QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN

Perhaps the most troubling part of the case is that Preston had been seen by numerous professionals and taken to hospital multiple times before his death.

An independent safeguarding review has resumed following the conclusion of the criminal proceedings and is examining how agencies handled Preston’s welfare.

Forty injuries. Multiple hospital visits. Repeated warning signs. And a 13-month-old child who could not protect himself.

The criminal case has reached its conclusion — but the safeguarding questions surrounding Preston Davey are far from over.