Crowds gather to remember baby Preston Davey at vigil

The 13-month-old died in July 2023 at the hands of teacher Jamie Varley, 37, his adoptive father from Blackpool. Varley, adopted Preston Davey at nine months old with his partner, ex-public schoolboy and financial sales manager, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32.

Preston had been taken from his mother, Sarah Davey, now 42, by an emergency care order by Oldham Council.

The vigil was organised by Niamh Cardwell-Clarke in Preston’s Flag Market and was about remembering ‘the beautiful little boy he was’.

Tributes including pictures of Preston Davey were left at the vigil as people from across the county gathered to remember the ‘smiley’ baby.

The biological father of murdered Preston Davey told the BBC:  “My son went through four months of terror at the hands of a monster.

“My son should be alive today on his birthday and not dead.”

Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley were approved for adoption and at nine months old Preston began living at their home in Blackpool, Lancs in April 2023.

But in the just under four months he was in their care, he was routinely ill-treated, had indecent images and videos taken of him, sexually abused and physically assaulted, suffering 40 traumatic injuries, the defendant’s trial at Preston Crown Court has heard.