Latest news with #PrestonDavey
Russia Today
4 days ago
- Russia Today
British gay couple charged with rape and murder of baby they wanted to adopt
British secondary school teacher Jamie Varley has been charged with the murder and sexual assault of a 13-month-old boy that he and his boyfriend John McGowan-Fazakerley were in the process of adopting. The couple appeared in Preston Crown Court on Monday, nearly two years after the baby boy, Preston Davey, was pronounced dead at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in 2023. Both defendants were initially arrested, but later released on bail. Lancashire Police later re-arrested and charged Varley with a slew of offenses including murder, two counts of assault by penetration of a male child under 13 and five counts of child cruelty. He also stands accused of multiple counts of taking indecent photographs, distributing an image and possession of an extreme pornographic image of the victim, as well as other offenses. His co-defendant McGowan-Fazakerley has been charged with causing and allowing the death of a child, sexual assault of a child, and two counts of cruelty to a child, the police said. The authorities noted that all of the charges were related to the 13-month-old victim. Judge Robert Altham, who presided at Monday's brief hearing, set the trial date for April 14, 2026. Both defendants were remanded into custody and will remain in prison awaiting a plea hearing in October, according to local daily The Blackpool Gazette. The judge noted that while he regretted the delay, it would ensure that all expert witnesses were ready for future proceedings, the newspaper wrote on Monday. Varley has been suspended from work since 2023, according to the Cidari Multi Academy Trust, which now runs the school where he was employed at the time of the alleged crime. 'He has not been permitted onto, or attended school premises, or been permitted to contact pupils or colleagues,' the organization told the Blackpool Gazette in a statement. The trust is reportedly 'considering its position in relation' to Varley's employment. 'Jamie was suspended on full pay as we are legally obliged to do,' Cidari told the local newspaper when asked whether Varley has been receiving a salary since his 2023 arrest.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Former teacher accused of sexually assaulting and murdering the baby he was trying to adopt appears in court
A former teacher accused of sexually assaulting and murdering the baby he was trying to adopt has appeared in court. Jamie Varley, 36, was in the process of adopting 13-month-old Preston Davey in 2023 along with co-accused John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, who also appeared in the dock at Preston Crown Court on Monday. Members of the child's family sat yards away in the public gallery alongside police officers, one woman in tears as she looked over at the defendants. 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. 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, who lived in Grimsargh, near Preston, span between March and July of 2023, and relate to Preston Davey. Judge Robert Altham set the date for the trial of both men as April 14, 2026. It is estimated to last up to eight weeks. He remanded both defendants, who spoke only to confirm their names, in custody to next appear for a plea hearing on October 13. Judge Robert Altham, at the beginning of a 30-minute hearing dealing with administrative matters, said: 'I gather there are members of Preston's family here. They are most welcome.' A police investigation first began after officers were called to Blackpool Victoria Hospital at 7.15pm on July 27, 2023 after the baby was brought in unresponsive. Preston was pronounced dead a short time later. Varley was suspended as teacher at South Shore Academy, Blackpool, when he was arrested in 2023, the Cidari Multi Academy Trust, which now runs the school, said.
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Preston Davey: 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 Varley, 36, is accused of murdering and sexually assaulting 13-month-old Preston Davey in Blackpool in 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 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. 'Unresponsive baby' 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 was pronounced dead shortly 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 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 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 the charges against both men, of Grimsargh, near Preston, span between March and July of 2023, and relate to Preston Davey, the court 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. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
The Independent
5 days ago
- The Independent
Family of baby weep in court as trial date set for alleged killer
The loved ones of a baby boy wept as his alleged killer appeared in court. Former high school teacher Jamie Varley, 36, is accused of the murder and sexual assault of 13-month-old Preston Davey in 2023. The 36-year-old was in the process of adopting the child along with co-accused John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, who also appeared in the dock at Preston Crown Court on Monday. Members of the child's family sat yards away in the public gallery alongside police officers, one woman in tears as she looked over at the defendants. Judge Robert Altham, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, at the beginning of the 30-minute hearing, dealing with administrative matters that cannot be reported yet, said: 'I gather there are members of Preston's family here. They are most welcome.' Judge Altham set a date for the trial for both men of April 14, next year, estimated to last up to eight weeks. He remanded both defendants, who spoke only to confirm their names, into custody to next appear for a plea hearing on October 13 later this year. 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. 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, who lived in Grimsargh, near Preston, span between March and July of 2023, and relate to Preston Davey. A police investigation first began after officers were called to Blackpool Victoria Hospital at 7.15pm on July 27 2023 after the baby was brought in unresponsive. Preston was pronounced dead a short time later. Varley was suspended as teacher at South Shore Academy, Blackpool, when he was arrested in 2023, the Cidari Multi Academy Trust which now runs the school said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Family of baby weep in court as trial date set for alleged killer
The loved ones of a baby boy wept as his alleged killer appeared in court. Former high school teacher Jamie Varley, 36, is accused of the murder and sexual assault of 13-month-old Preston Davey in 2023. The 36-year-old was in the process of adopting the child along with co-accused John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, who also appeared in the dock at Preston Crown Court on Monday. Members of the child's family sat yards away in the public gallery alongside police officers, one woman in tears as she looked over at the defendants. Judge Robert Altham, the Honorary Recorder of Preston, at the beginning of the 30-minute hearing, dealing with administrative matters that cannot be reported yet, said: 'I gather there are members of Preston's family here. They are most welcome.' Judge Altham set a date for the trial for both men of April 14, next year, estimated to last up to eight weeks. He remanded both defendants, who spoke only to confirm their names, into custody to next appear for a plea hearing on October 13 later this year. 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. 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, who lived in Grimsargh, near Preston, span between March and July of 2023, and relate to Preston Davey. A police investigation first began after officers were called to Blackpool Victoria Hospital at 7.15pm on July 27 2023 after the baby was brought in unresponsive. Preston was pronounced dead a short time later. Varley was suspended as teacher at South Shore Academy, Blackpool, when he was arrested in 2023, the Cidari Multi Academy Trust which now runs the school said.
