A trial is currently proceeding at Preston Crown Court regarding the death of 13-month-old Preston Davey in Blackpool, Lancashire. Defendants John McGowan-Fazakerley and Jamie Varley face allegations of murder and sexual abuse involving the infant they were in the process of adopting.

The 40 injuries that bypassed Blackpool safeguarding

The case against the defendants centers on a period of four months starting in April 2023, when Preston Davey was placed with the couple. As reported by the source, the child allegedly suffered systematic physical, psychological, and sexual abuse during his time in their care. A post-mortem examination revealed more than 40 separate injuries on the infant, including unusual internal bruising to his bladder and throat.

These injuries were reportedly consistent with sexual abuse, according to experts testifying in court. Despite the child visiting a hospital three times during this period—once with a broken elbow—no safeguarding concerns were officially raised by authorities.. This failure to intervene highlights a potential systemic gap in how vulnerable children in foster or adoptive placements are monitored in the Lancashire area.

The July 23 photos of an unresponsive infant

Distressing evidence presented to the jury includes seven images taken by Jamie Varley on the afternoon of July 23.. In these photographs, Preston Davey appears unresponsive, with his eyes closed and his lips showing a blue tint. While experts testified that the infant looked in need of immediate resuscitation, Varley claimed the photos were merely intended to document the "weird and wonderful" positions the baby took while sleeping.

The prosecution also highlighted a photo of the infant's bottom taken by Varley, which he claimed was to show an abnormality to McGowan-Fazakerley. However, the prosecutor questioned why Varley waited 90 minutes to show the image to McGowan-Fazakerley, only doing so after returning from a shopping trip.

The "misplaced trust" defense of John McGowan-Fazakerley

John McGowan-Fazakerley, a 32-year-old sales manager, has denied any sexual interest in the child and maintains he was unaware of the extent of the abuse. His defense rests on the claim that he had "misplaced his trust" in his 37-year-old boyfriend, Jamie Varley, a teacher. McGowan-Fazakerley testified that he was cooking a Sunday lunch on the day of the death and only saw the child briefly when Varley called him upstairs.

He further claimed that he did not see the distressing photographs taken by Varley until two years later during a formal police interview. The prosecution has dismissed this version of events as "nonsense," arguing that McGowan-Fazakerley was present in the house when ceratin photos were taken and should have been aware of the child's condition.

Drowning vs. airway obstruction: The medical contradiction

A central point of contention in the trial is the exact cause of Preston Davey's death. Jamie Varley has claimed that the infant drowned after being left alone in a bath for a few minutes. However, the source reports that a pathologist testified there was no evidence of drowning. Instead, the medical expert concluded that the child died from an acute upper airway obstruction.

This discrepancy leaves several critical questions for the jury. It remains unverified whether the airway obstruction was a direct result of physical assault or a secondary effect of other trauma. Additionally, the court has yet to determine the exact level of knowledge McGowan-Fazakerley possessed regarding the alleged abuse prior to the fatal incident.