HELL BEHIND BARS: Baby Preston Davey’s Adoptive Fathers Face Their Own Nightmare in Prison
The two men reviled across Britain for the horrific murder and sexual abuse of 13-month-old Preston Davey are now confronting a grim reality behind bars. Jamie Varley, 37, and his former partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, who once portrayed themselves as a loving adoptive couple, have reportedly come face-to-face inside the prison system for the first time since their high-profile trial.
According to prison sources, the explosive reunion occurred in a shared unit, where tensions boiled over. Witnesses described Varley glaring at McGowan-Fazakerley with unbridled hatred and fear. What was once a relationship built on shared dreams has dissolved into mutual blame, regret, and isolation.
Varley, a former high school teacher and head of year, received a rare whole-life order in June 2026 at Preston Crown Court for the murder of Preston during a sexual assault on July 27, 2023. He was also convicted of multiple counts including grievous bodily harm, sexual assault, child cruelty, and the making, taking, and distribution of indecent images of the toddler. The judge, Mr Justice Turner, described the case as one of “utmost gravity,” emphasizing that Varley would never be released.
Preston, adopted by the couple in April 2023 at nine months old, endured four months of escalating physical, sexual, and emotional abuse at their home in Blackpool. A post-mortem examination revealed around 40 traumatic injuries, including signs of forcible penetration, ruling out Varley’s initial claim that the child had drowned in the bath.
Varley is now held in a high-security facility under extreme supervision. Prison insiders report a “bounty” placed on his head by fellow inmates outraged by crimes against a child. He rarely leaves his cell, eats alone, and is under constant watch for suicide risks. The once-respected educator now lives in perpetual fear.
McGowan-Fazakerley, a former financial sales manager, was sentenced to 25 years for causing or allowing Preston’s death, child cruelty, and sexual assault. He participated in a joint sexual attack on the baby just days before the fatal assault. Now serving his sentence, he faces total social isolation. Once affluent and outwardly respectable, he is despised by other prisoners, subjected to humiliating nicknames and relentless psychological torment for failing to protect the vulnerable child.
A prison insider revealed: “They once thought they would be together until the end. Now there’s only regret and mutual blame.” Their lives are a stark contrast to the polished image they projected during the adoption process. Preston had thrived with his foster parents, Paul and Sandra Cooper, who described him as a “sweet and bubbly” boy who lit up any room.
The case has sparked national outrage and calls for a public inquiry into safeguarding failures by Oldham Council and adoption authorities. Preston’s biological mother, Sarah Davey, expressed unimaginable pain in court, stating she would never forgive the pair for the suffering inflicted on her son.
Behind the cold prison walls, haunting memories of Preston and the dark secrets of their crimes continue to unfold. For Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley, justice has delivered them into a living hell of their own making—one marked by isolation, threats, and the inescapable weight of their actions. The nation mourns a bright young life cut short, while the perpetrators face the consequences they so richly deserve.
This tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the need for rigorous scrutiny in child protection systems to prevent such horrors from recurring. Preston Davey’s story will not be forgotten.