A previous resident alerted authorities to Jamie Varley, a convicted murderer, after he attempted to ignite her children’s toys with lit cigarettes. Varley, 37, is serving a whole-life sentence for the brutal killing and sexual assault of his adopted son, Preston Davey, who suffered severe abuse under their care. Tragically, Preston faced two sexual assaults on the day of his death, July 27, 2023, at the hands of Varley, a former school teacher. Varley’s accomplice, John McGowan-Fazakerley, was sentenced to 25 years for his involvement in the heinous crimes.

Recently, a former neighbor of Varley shared harrowing experiences of living next to him. The neighbor, a mother of five who had fostered numerous children, recounted reporting Varley for anti-social behavior and property damage, including attempting to set fire to their children’s toys with cigarettes. She expressed concerns for her children’s safety due to Varley’s aggressive behavior.

Details of Varley’s troubled past have surfaced, including an incident during the Covid lockdown where he allegedly injured himself while spying on a suspected unfaithful partner. Following Varley’s sentencing at Preston Crown Court, he joined a list of dangerous criminals sentenced to life imprisonment, such as Wayne Couzens, Levi Bellfield, and Jeremy Bamber.

Preston Davey, born to convicted murderer Sarah Davey, was placed in the care of Oldham Council shortly after his birth in June 2022. Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley became his adoptive parents in January 2023, leading to a tragic series of abuse that culminated in Preston’s death in July 2023. The toddler suffered escalating mistreatment at the hands of Varley, while McGowan-Fazakerley ignored the abuse. Preston was rushed to the hospital in cardiac arrest on July 27, where he was pronounced dead despite medical efforts.