Overview
- A jury convicted Jamie Varley of murdering 13-month-old Preston Davey and the judge imposed a whole-life term, and Varley’s partner John McGowan-Fazakerley was jailed for 25 years for allowing the death and taking part in abuse.
- A Home Office post-mortem found about 40 non-accidental injuries and an airway obstruction in Preston’s death in July 2023, evidence that featured centrally in the trial.
- The Child Safeguarding Practice Review that had been paused for the prosecution has now resumed and independent experts have been asked to examine Oldham Council, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the regional adoption agency.
- Coverage and earlier reviews identify multiple missed opportunities by nurses, social workers and police to spot or act on signs of abuse, and campaigners are urging the Preston review to be widened to include the separate case of Damion Russell and hospital failures.
- Public pressure and parliamentary calls have driven a Change.org petition with more than 26,000 signatures and ministerial promises to roll out stronger, statutory safeguarding measures under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.