Man accused of murdering baby he wanted to adopt

The family of a baby boy have wept in court as a man who was trying to adopt him appeared in the dock charged with his murder.

Jamie Varley, 36, is accused of murdering and sexually assaulting 13-month-old Preston Davey in Blackpool in 2023.

The 36-year-old former teacher was in the process of adopting the child along with co-accused John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, who also appeared at Preston Crown Court.

Members of Preston's family were in the public gallery alongside police officers, with a woman in tears as she looked at the defendants.

Both defendants, who spoke only to confirm their names, were remanded into custody to next appear for a plea hearing on 13 October.

Judge Robert Altham said at the beginning of the 30-minute hearing: "I gather there are members of Preston's family here. They are most welcome."

Lancashire Police said it was alerted on 27 July 2023 after an "unresponsive" baby boy was brought into Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Preston was pronounced dead shortly after.

Mr Varley is accused of murder, manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration of a child, five counts of child cruelty, one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm, and one count of sexual assault of a child.

He is further accused of 10 counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, one count of distributing indecent photographs of a child, two counts of possessing indecent pseudo images of a child, and one count of possession of an extreme pornographic image.

Mr McGowan-Fazakerley is charged with allowing the death of a child, as well as two counts of child cruelty and one count of sexual assault of a child.

All the charges against both men, of Grimsargh, near Preston, span between March and July of 2023, and relate to Preston Davey, the court heard.

Mr Varley was suspended from South Shore Academy, Blackpool, when he was arrested in 2023, the Cidari Multi Academy Trust which now runs the school said.

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