‘I AM ASHAMED’: Dyslexic high school teacher, 37, weeps in dock as he denies murdering his adopted 15-month-old baby son – but admits feeling ‘disappointed’ over ‘highly dangerous’ cot photos he took days before toddler was ‘smothered to death’
- Jamie Varley, 37, broke down in tears at Preston Crown Court as he gave evidence in his defense for the first time in the fourth week of his trial
- The design and technology teacher is accused of murdering 15-month-old Preston Davey, who died on July 27, 2023, just four months after being adopted
- Prosecution alleges Preston was routinely subjected to ‘physical, emotional, and sexual abuse’ before his death, suffering 40 traumatic injuries
- Varley denied using photos of the toddler suspended in a dangerous position in his cot as ‘trophies’ of abuse, claiming he just wanted to ‘capture every part of his life’
- The court heard Varley texted his sister that the baby was ‘dead meat’ after a sleepless night—a phrase he claimed was just ‘dramatic and sassy’ language
- Varley’s partner and co-defendant, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, also denies charges including allowing the death of a child and cruelty
By SARA KAIN FOR MAILONLINE
Published: 16:45 BST, 22 May 2026 | Updated: 18:12 BST, 22 May 2026
A high school teacher accused of murdering his newly adopted 15-month-old baby boy has wept in the witness box, telling a jury he is ‘deeply ashamed’ of highly dangerous photographs he took of the child suspended in his cot but fiercely denied carrying out a campaign of horrific physical and sexual abuse.
Jamie Varley, 37, appeared visibly shaken and emotional as he gave evidence in his own defense at Preston Crown Court yesterday. The design and technology teacher is on trial alongside his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, following the tragic death of little Preston Davey in July 2023.
The baby, who had been placed with the couple in Blackpool on April 1, 2023, after a rigorous adoption assessment, died just 117 days later. A post-mortem examination revealed a catalogue of horror, including 40 traumatic injuries, signs of ‘forcible penetration,’ and a final cause of death determined to be acute upper airway obstruction—smothering.
Clutching a tissue in the witness box, his voice cracking with emotion, Varley flatly denied murdering the toddler or subjecting him to any form of physical or psychological harm.
“Absolutely not,” Varley sobbed when asked by his defense barrister, Nick Johnson KC, if he had killed Preston or sexually assaulted him. “Our son has never been sexually abused. No.”
A ‘DREAM’ OF FATHERHOOD THAT TURNED INTO A COLD-BLOODED NIGHTMARE
The court heard that Varley, who suffers from severe dyslexia but overcame his learning difficulties to become a respected design and technology teacher and head of year at a local high school, had long despaired of ever becoming a father.
“I had always thought about having kids,” Varley told the jury, explaining how his perspective shifted when he realized his sexuality. “I wanted to be a teacher, a daddy… I just never thought it was possible once I realized I was a gay man.”
That dream appeared to come true when he met his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, whom he described as “everything I had ever asked for in a relationship.”
“My whole life just changed when I met John,” he added.
Following an extensive assessment process, the couple were approved for adoption and welcomed Preston into their Blackpool home on April 1, 2023. However, Varley admitted to the jury that the transition from a childless couple to full-time parents was a massive “eye-opener.”
Preston, the court heard, was not a good sleeper and struggled to adapt to a routine.
“It was challenging in the sense it was new to us,” Varley explained. “I felt because I had more experience [as a teacher] than John, I felt it was going to be a breeze, but it wasn’t.”
‘HE’S DEAD MEAT’: SASSY DRAMA OR A CHILLING FORESHADOWING OF MURDER?
As the prosecution seeks to paint a picture of a household descending into frustration, resentment, and violence, the jury was confronted with text messages sent by Varley in the weeks leading up to Preston’s death.
In one text message sent to his sister after a particularly grueling, sleepless night, Varley wrote of the 15-month-old: “He’s dead meat.”
When questioned about the chilling nature of the phrase, Varley insisted it was merely an example of his theatrical personality and should not be taken literally.
“It was just language that I use,” he told the jury. “In social settings I’m dramatic. Sassy. I just easily throw words about.”
He maintained that despite the difficulties of early parenthood, his bond with Preston grew rapidly and intensely. He compared his love for the child to the affection he held for his pet dog, Max.
“I did not think I could love anything more than my dog, Max,” Varley said, his voice breaking. “But my love for Preston exceeded that for his pet. When we got the little one, it was special, it was quick, it was strong.”
THE COT PHOTOS: ‘TROPHIES’ OF ABUNDANT ABUSE OR ‘INNOCENT’ SNAPSHOTS?
One of the most disturbing aspects of the prosecution’s case centers on a series of photographs recovered from Varley’s mobile phone. The images, taken over a period of three minutes and 12 seconds just four days before Preston’s death, show the toddler in what experts described as an “extremely dangerous” and “highly unsafe” position.
In the photos, Preston is in his cot alongside two teddy bears. His head and arms are draped over the top horizontal wooden bar, with his neck resting directly on the hard timber. His body is partially suspended, his legs splayed out in what was described as a “frog-like” position, and the toddler appears to be either fast asleep or entirely unconscious.
The prosecution alleges these images were kept as “trophies” of a sexual or physical assault.
“Were these trophies of a sexual encounter?” Mr. Johnson KC asked the defendant.
“No they were not, no,” Varley wept, shaking his head.
“I did not even recognize at the moment, it was inappropriate,” Varley claimed, expressing deep regret for taking the pictures instead of immediately moving the child to a safe sleeping position.
“I’m disappointed. I feel shamed. I feel really ashamed. I did not mean to cause any distress, any harm in that moment. I felt he was safe. I just wanted to capture him, all of his life. I just wanted to capture every part of his life.”