A cruel school teacher who fatally assaulted his adopted infant during a sexual attack has made an appearance in court.

Jamie Varley, aged 37, was recently sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 13-month-old Preston Davey, who endured continuous mistreatment at the hands of the former high school year head.

Varley attended Preston Crown Court through a video link from HMP Wakefield, known as “Monster Mansion,” which houses some of the nation’s most infamous criminals.

Dressed in a striped sweater, Varley participated in the court session from a room in the prison, leaning on a desk with his hands clasped in front of his face, only speaking to confirm his identity.

He appeared for a brief two-minute hearing under the “slip rule,” which allows judges to rectify legal errors or unintentional mistakes.

Following his conviction for murder and 24 other offenses, Varley was additionally sentenced to seven years in prison for one count of child sexual assault, to be served concurrently with his other sentences.

Despite this additional sentence, it holds no practical significance as Varley was already handed a life sentence with no chance of release by the same judge on June 18.

Varley’s partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, aged 32, also appeared via video link from HMP Preston during the hearing and received a 25-year prison term for enabling Varley’s maltreatment of the child and involvement in the sexual abuse, after an extensive eight-week trial.

Investigators characterized their actions as appalling and labeled Varley as a malevolent and sadistic individual.

Preston was treated as an object of abuse, with the child being routinely sexually and physically mistreated after being adopted by the couple at nine months old, leading to his tragic death four months later in their Blackpool residence in July 2023.

An investigation by social services is currently underway.