Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazackerley deny a string of charges following the 13-month-old’s death
Rachel Smith Court reporter
14:20, 22 Apr 2026Updated 14:20, 22 Apr 2026
Preston Davey(Image: Lancashire Police)
A foster mum who cared for Preston Davey before he was placed for adoption with a couple from Blackpool told a trial she was ‘really worried’ once he left her care.
Preston, 13 months, died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital after suffering around 40 internal and external injuries while in the care of Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazackerley, prosecutors allege.
Mr Varley, 37, is accused of murdering the child. His partner, Mr McGowan-Fazackerley, 32, is accused of allowing the little boy’s death. Both deny the allegations along with additional charges of cruelty and sexual abuse.
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On Wednesday (April 22), a jury at Preston Crown Court heard from foster carer Sandra Cooper, who looked after Preston from when he was five days old, in June 2022. Mrs Cooper and her husband Paul have been foster parents for 27 years and have cared for 43 babies.
Describing Preston, she said: “He was just beautiful. He was happy, he laughed, he smiled really early – he was a really lovely baby. He loved cuddles, he had really nice eye contact – he was just having a really nice life.”
In January 2023, care proceedings were finalised and Mrs Cooper was told the process of looking for a permanent family for Preston was underway, the court heard.
Jamie Varley, left, and John McGowan-Fazackerly
Mr Varley, a teacher, and his partner Mr McGowan-Fazackerley had already been approved as prospective adoptive parents and in March 2023 the match was approved, the jury was told.
An in introduction process began, with the foster family meeting the prospective adopters at a restaurant in Ashton-Under-Lyne, it was said. Mrs Cooper said the meeting was ‘really lovely’ and Preston was happy to be passed to the couple to be held.
Further introductions were arranged, firstly at the Coopers house and later at the adoptive fathers’ house in Staining Avenue, Blackpool, the court heard.
Preston struggled with reflux and could be difficult to settle so Mrs Cooper arranged to stay at a hotel close to the new family’s home, so she could be ‘on call’ when Preston began to have overnight visits with his new dads, she said.
Mrs Cooper told the jury she was never called out to help and on April 3, 2023, Preston went to live at Staining Avenue permanently.
A series of post adoption meet ups were arranged with Oldham council social worker Amy Shepherdson, who oversaw the adoption process.
In May, Mrs Cooper was told the adoptive fathers had complained about another foster carer being present during some of the introductions at her home, the court heard.
Preston Davey
“I took that really badly,” she said. “I took that to be the day I never see him again.” She said she was “devastated” and “cried all day” because she felt the falling out with Preston’s new parents would be the end of the relationship.
Mrs Cooper told the jury she left a group chat which had been set up between herself, her husband and the new parents. She said she remained in a separate chat with the same members and social workers.
A meeting was arranged at Barton Grange for April 29, but Mrs Cooper said Preston looked ‘stiff and a bit blank.’ “We were just really worried”, she added.
She and her husband were looking after two other babies at the time and had to get the children up at 6.30am for the visit, the court heard. “It was just made really difficult, but I would have done anything to see him that day”, she said.
She said a further meeting was arranged for her birthday but the family did not turn up. She told the court she told a social worker she had a ‘gut feeling’ that something was wrong and the couple were ‘hiding’ Preston from her.
Mr Varley is accused of murder; sexual assault; GBH; child cruelty; making indecent images; and distributing an indecent image.
Mr McGowan-Fazackerley is accused of causing and allowing the death of a child; two counts of cruelty to a person under 16; and sexual assault of a male child under 13.
Both defendants, of Chandlers Way, Grimsargh, deny the allegations.
Proceeding