A TEACHER accused of sexually abusing and murdering a baby boy he was adopting with his boyfriend described him as “dead meat”, a court heard.
Preston Davey was allegedly routinely ill-treated, sexually abused, physically assaulted and had indecent photos taken of him.
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Preston suffered horror injuries before he died Credit: PA
Jamie Varley is accused of murdering him Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
His boyfriend John McGowan-Fazakerley allegedly turned a blind eye to the abuse Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Preston was adopted in April 2023 Credit: PA
The 13-month-old had been adopted by Jamie Varley, 37, and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, in April 2023.
Jurors heard just four months later, Preston died in hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest.
The baby, who had 40 traumatic injuries, had allegedly been sexually assaulted by Varley before he died, Preston Crown Court was told.
Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley both deny sexually assaulting Preston, who they were in the process of formally adopting.
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Preston was allegedly sexually assaulted Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Varley, left, and John McGowan-Fazakerley are on trial Credit: PA
Preston began living with the couple in their Blackpool home in April 2023 after undergoing an assessment and familiarisation process.
But just days later Varley, who took a year off work as head of year at high school to adopt a child, confessed he was struggling with a lack of sleep due to the baby constantly waking in the night, a jury heard.
On April 6, he texted his sister, a baby sleep trainer: “He’s dead meat today. Didn’t sleep last night after 11.30. Up every, one and a half hours.”
Four days later, Varley sent his mother Karen Graham, a video of Preston in his walker, and she replied: “Clever boy xxx”
Varley then replied: “This was before he was murdered and put to bed.”
He texted his friend: “First sleep over. I wanted to put him in the field with the cows,” but goes on to describe Preston as a “ray of sunshine”.
Varley said the child was “refusing” to go to sleep, is “very needy” and texted another friend: “He’s just annoying. Lol.”
He goes on to tell the friend: “Right now we are questioning every choice.”
In other messages Varley says Preston is “crying all the time”, and that they are “really struggling” as the lack of sleep is a “nightmare”.
Foster parent Sandra Cooper, who looked after Preston for 10 months after his birth in June 2022, said the baby was “very happy”.
She said while he was “not a good sleeper” he quickly went back to sleep by having his head stroked.
Jurors heard once in the defendant’s care, Preston was taken to hospital three times – once with a fractured left elbow.
On July 27, 2023, the baby was rushed to hospital unconscious and in a state of cardiac arrest.
Varley told police he had briefly left Preston in the bath and when he returned he was drowning.
But jurors heard a post mortem found multiple non-accidental, internal and external injuries.
Preston’s cause of death was given as an acute obstruction of his upper airway.
The court was told this was caused either a smothering with a hand or fabric or the insertion of an object into Preston’s mouth.
Varley denies murder, manslaughter, sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of assault by penetration, grievous bodily harm, five counts of child cruelty and further counts of making, taking and distributing indecent images.
McGowan-Fazakerley pleaded not guilty to causing and allowing the death of a child, three counts of child cruelty and sexual assault of a child under 13.
The trial continues.
