The former prisoner has issued a stark warning that the perpetrator of the tragic death of young Preston Davey will face severe consequences in prison due to being deemed a highly undesirable inmate.
Jamie Varley, a 37-year-old individual, was recently convicted of the murder and sexual abuse of the 13-month-old child he had adopted with his partner, 32-year-old John McGowan-Fazakerley. Varley, a former high school teacher, displayed shock and distress upon hearing the guilty verdicts at Preston Crown Court, collapsing to his knees and vomiting.
Tragically, Preston passed away at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in July 2023 after sustaining a total of 40 traumatic injuries, both external and internal, during the four months he spent under the care of the couple at their residence in Blackpool.
In addition to the charge of murder, Varley was found guilty of multiple offenses including assault by penetration, child cruelty, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, taking indecent photos or videos of a child, and other related charges. McGowan-Fazakerley was also convicted of serious offenses such as allowing the death of a child, child cruelty, and sexual assault of a child.
The two defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by Mr. Justice Turner on Thursday. A former inmate, Rich Jones, who served time for conspiracy to supply cocaine, shared insights on Varley’s potential challenges in prison. Jones emphasized the severe nature of Varley’s crimes, indicating that he may be targeted by other prisoners given the gravity of his offenses.
Jones highlighted the likelihood of Varley being placed in a high-security Category A prison, possibly such as HMP Wakefield, known as “Monster Mansion” due to its housing of notorious criminals. He emphasized the necessity for Varley to receive protection due to the high risk he faces from fellow inmates.
Despite the possibility of being placed in a vulnerable prisoner wing, Jones stressed that Varley would remain at risk due to the severity of his crimes. He mentioned the existence of a hierarchy among sex offenders in prisons, indicating that Varley would be at the bottom of that hierarchy and thus vulnerable to harm.
Jones also highlighted the potential risks Varley faces from other inmates seeking to settle debts or gain status within the prison environment. He concluded by emphasizing the precarious situation Varley will face in prison and the various threats he may encounter.
Following the court’s verdict, Karen Tonge from the Crown Prosecution Service described the case as one of the most shocking and horrific she had encountered in her career. She condemned Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley for their heinous actions, expressing sympathy for the innocent victim, Preston, and those affected by the tragic events.