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Teacher Jamie Varley is handed a whole life order for the murder and sexual abuse of his adopted 13-month-old baby Preston Davey
He was adopted in 2023 by Varley and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, who was sentenced to 25 years in jail
After an eight-week trial, Varley, 37, was found guilty of murder, sexual assault, and a raft of other child sex offences
McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child
Police described the two men as "pure evil", and said they made the baby's short life a "harrowing tale of misery and pain"
Preston's biological mother told the court of her 'unimaginable pain' over the killing of her baby boy
Lancashire Police have released a video of Preston Davey laughing in the care of his foster parents Sandra Cooper and Paul Cooper.
It was taken before he was adopted in 2023 by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley.
Footage of Preston Davey prior to adoption
Lauren Hirst
BBC News
Following the sentencing hearing, a government spokesperson said: “This is a sickening case of evil abusers exploiting a vulnerable child.
"The public rightly demand answers about what went wrong and we can assure them we will make sure anyone responsible for negligence faces consequences."
They said the government had brought in the "most far-reaching child protection reforms in a generation" with the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act.
It requires social workers, health professionals and the police to work together better to protect vulnerable children at risk of abuse.
They said: "We are also introducing a new Child Protection Authority in England to oversee the national picture.”
“An independent review has been commissioned by the local authorities and the independent national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel will work with them to get to the bottom of this horrifying case.
"The reviewer will publish their findings as soon as possible.”
Jonny Humphries
North West
Since the abolition of the death penalty, decades ago, a whole-life order is the most severe punishment a criminal court can impose on a defendant in the UK.
It means there is no chance the defendant will ever be released on licence and will spend the rest of their life in prison.
Even in extremely harrowing murder cases, the statutory tests are not always met and judges often instead opt for life sentences with lengthy minimum terms in prison - after which the defendant could apply for parole.
Recent whole life order recipients have included neonatal nurse turned child serial killer Lucy Letby and Wayne Couzens, the serving Met Police officer who murdered Sarah Everard.
There are believed to be about 70 people serving whole life orders in British prisons.
Yunus Mulla
BBC North West Tonight
The judge says 13-month-old Preston faced “unremitting abuse” and neglect before being killed by Varley during a sex attack.
Turning to Varley, he said: “It was you who did this. You murdered him.
“A whole life order is a sentence of last resort for cases of the most extreme gravity.
“This is a case of the most extreme gravity.
"You must stay in prison for the rest of your life. You will never be eligible for parole.”
Varley rushes to the exit inside the dock after the sentence is handed down.
The judge thanks the jury for their hard work and for what they had to endure during the trial.
John McGowan-Fazakerley has been sentenced to 25 years.
He was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.
Teacher Jamie Varley, 37, has been sentenced at Preston Crown Court to a whole life order for the murder and sexual abuse of his adopted baby Preston Davey.
He was convicted of murder, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child, one of distributing an indecent photo of a child, to his co-accused, and one of making an indecent photo.
Yunus Mulla
BBC North West Tonight
The judge continues: "The seriousness of your offending is exceptionally high and the appropriate starting point is whole life order.
"This is a case of extreme gravity ... you will never be eligible for parole."
A whole life order means you will never be released from prison, except in exceptional compassionate circumstances.
Danny Savage
North of England correspondent
The judge continues: "Preston was having a seizure. You videoed it. I’m sure it was caused by your further abuse.
"His lips were blue. He was plainly in need of urgent medical attention.
"You were the only person with Preston that afternoon. It was you. You murdered him."
The judge is now explaining the sentencing guidelines.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, help and support is available at the BBC Action Line.
Yunus Mulla
BBC North West Tonight
The judge says Varley had told friends of "harmful thoughts" towards Preston.
He says: "It proved to be a terrible omen."
He describes how Varley videod a seizure on the day Preston died.
The judge says the seizures were caused by abuse.
"He was plainly in need or urgent medical attention but this not happen because of fear of discovery of what you had done to him," he says.
Both defendants are sitting in the dock listening to the judge.
Varley is sitting with his hands clasped, holding a tissue.
McGowan-Fazakerley is sitting with his legs crossed, with one hand over the other on his lap.
Image source, Lancashire PoliceYunus Mulla
BBC North West Tonight
Mr Justice Turner said content on Varley's phone had become increasingly "sinister" as his resentment towards Preston increased.
The judge is now going through some of the evidence, including a video recorded by Varley to the background sound of the film Moana.
In that video he wakes up Preston by shouting "boo" at him.
During the trial this was used as evidence of cruelty.
Mr Justice Turner continues:
"Preston was noted to be a healthy baby when he was entrusted to your care.
"You, Varley, were primarily responsible for the daytime care of Preston.
"Unfortunately Preston proved to be restless at night.
"Otherwise he was described as a dream to care for.
"I’m sure that your growing and selfish resentment towards Preston played a part in your treatment of Preston."
Danny Savage
North of England correspondent
Mr Justice Turner, the judge in the case, says: "Preston Davey was 13 months old when he was murdered by you, Jamie Varley.
"Over the previous four months you and John McGowan-Fazakerley had been responsible for his care.
"Three days ago following a trial that had listed for over six weeks, you were both convicted unanimously.
"It now falls to me to sentence you."
Danny Savage
North of England correspondent
Varley and McGowan-Fazarkerley are now back in court.
Moments later, the judge returns to the court room to hand down the sentences.
Lauren Hirst
BBC News
Four victim impact statements were read out during the sentencing hearing earlier.
Sarah Davey, Preston's biological mum, said she now lived with the "unimaginable pain of wondering" what her son went through in the final months of his life.
In her statement, she said: "Preston should be here today...instead, he is forever 13 months old.
"For the first seven months of his life, I was lucky enough to spend precious time with him.
"He had the most beautiful smile, one that could light up any room, and the bond we shared was something everyone could see.
"Those memories should have brought me comfort, but instead, they are now mixed with pain, because I know what you put him through in his final months."
There were also statements from Preston's biological dad Gary Nolan and his foster parents Sandra and Paul Cooper.
Jamie Varley threw himself to the floor, begged officers to "please kill me" and called for his mother after being told his adopted son Preston Davey would not survive.
He screamed: "No, no, this is not happening" and slapped himself as if trying to wake himself up from a bad dream.
The dramatic behaviour captured on police body-worn camera footage was shown to a jury during his trial.
But Varley's account of how his son obtained the injuries that killed him proved to be "wholly inconsistent" - because he had in fact inflicted those injuries on the defenceless boy himself.
Jonny Humphries
North West
Powerful and distressing statements were delivered this morning in Preston Crown Court from the biological mother and foster parents of Preston Davey.
Preston's birth mother Sarah Davey said she "fell completely in love with him" the moment he was placed in her arms.
But she said the memories she has of baby Preston are "now mixed with pain".
Foster parents Sandra and Paul Cooper said they now fear what will happen in future when children they foster are placed with adoptive parents.
Image source, HandoutOn the legal issues facing the judge, we know that a life sentence for Varley is mandatory, but the question remaining is whether it should have a minimum prison term before he can apply for parole or not.
His barrister, Nicholas Johnson KC, urged the judge to stop short of a whole-life order - suggesting Varley had not meant to kill Preston.
Johnson suggested to the court Varley had a "sexual motive". He also pointed to his successful teaching career as personal mitigation.
The court also heard that his partner McGowan-Fazakerley was 'previously of good character’ and had a lack of previous convictions.
Mr Justice Turner has adjourned to consider his sentencing remarks.
Preston was born in June 2022 and taken into care by Oldham Council.
Image source, HandoutVarley and McGowan-Fazakerley were approved for adoption by Adoption Now, who provide services to local councils.
The regional adoption agency said it was a "deeply upsetting case, and our thoughts are with everyone affected by these truly awful crimes".
It said it followed "a strict and rigorous process... in the assessment and approval of adopters".
The council launched a safeguarding practice review after Preston's death, which has restarted after it was paused during criminal proceedings.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, help and support is available at the BBC Action Line.
Jonny Humphries
North West
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel De Souza has told the BBC Preston Davey's murder was a “massive safeguarding failure”.
She promised to pursue the question of whether it was preventable with “that baby’s broken body at the front of my mind”.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme ahead of the sentencing of Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley, she said: "We know that very early into his adoption, and he was only in adoption with his family for four months, very early, he was taken to hospital with bruises.
“The consultant dismissed it. Did they dismiss it because it was a teacher adopter?
“Did that evil abuser hoodwink people under that professional guise?
“The social worker saw him 20 days before he died, I want to know whether the correct level of professional curiosity was there."
Quote MessageI have huge numbers of questions, and I’m not going to let go until I have the answers.