Teacher denies bath story as court hears abuse

A teacher accused of murdering his adopted baby son told a jury today it was ‘ridiculous’ to suggest he had made up a story about the tot drowning in the bath. Preston Davey died after suffering cardiac and respiratory arrest at his home in Blackpool. He was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital where doctors tried to save his life, but he was later pronounced dead. His adopted father, Jamie Varley, 37, told medics he had accidentally drowned while being left unsupervised in the bath, a

jury has heard. However, a post-mortem examination concluded the 13-month-old had suffered acute upper airway obstruction and had been sexually assaulted, the court was told. Click here to hear the latest from Manchester’s courts in our newsletter Home office pathologist Dr Alison Armour said there was no evidence of drowning, but bruising to the back of Preston’s throat and injuries to his pelvic organs indicate he had been sexually abused in the hours before he died. Speaking from the witness box at Preston Crown Court

on Friday, Mr Varley told the jury Preston was vomiting when his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, returned home from work at 6.20pm on July 27, 2023. He said he thought it was due to the bath water Preston had swallowed when he slipped out of the bath seat, reports Lancs Live. His barrister Nick Kennedy KC said: “What would you say to the suggestion this entire bath event is made up?” “It’s absolutely not”, Mr Varley replied. “It’s ridiculous that conclusion would be drawn. There

would be no reason to make such things up.” Mr Varley returned to the witness box to be cross examined by Anne Whyte KC, the defence barrister representing Mr McGowan-Fazakerley. Ms Whyte KC said her client had accepted the experts findings about the cause of Preston’s death. She said: “You have never disclosed to John anything that could explain the evidence given by Dr Armour and Dr Gifford (expert paediatrician) at the time of Preston’s death.” Mr Varley replied: “No because I don’t know how

those injuries were caused. I would be speculating. It’s not that I don’t accept the cause of death. I don’t accept what they are saying has caused the hypoxia.” Ms Whyte KC explained the experts said Preston’s airways – his ability to breathe – were restricted to such an extent he lost access to oxygen therefore having a hypoxic injury that led to a cardiac arrest. Continuing the cross examination, Ms Whyte said: “Given the findings on Preston’s body, the evidence – which John doesn’t

dispute – is that must have been by way of a deliberate act, because it wasn’t drowning, you have not described an accident. “You’ve done something to the child to prevent him breathing,” she said. “That is not correct,” Mr Varley replied. Ms Whyte continued: “That’s the evidence that John accepts and you don’t.” “I don’t because I was the person in the house that day. I know what happened,” Mr Varley said. Ms Whyte said if the evidence is right, Mr Varley has lied

to his partner ‘in the profoundest way’. “You know he doesn’t want to believe you are capable of that. You know that,” she said. “I know that John knows I am not capable of that,” Mr Varley replied. Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter Ms Whyte continued: “The trust he has placed in you has been misplaced because you have not told him the truth.” But the defendant said: “I have told John the truth. If

I felt for one second it was down to me I would have taken full responsibility. I wouldn’t have put John through this.” Mr Varley, 38, is accused of murder; manslaughter; sexual assault of a child under 13; inflicting grievous bodily harm; five counts of child cruelty; and further counts of making, taking and distributing indecent images. Mr McGowan-Fazackerley is accused of causing or allowing the death of a child; two counts of child cruelty; and sexual assault of a child under 13. Both men

deny all the charges against them. Proceeding.

Preston Davey, Jamie Varley, John McGowan-Fazakerley, Preston Crown Court, bath story denial, post-mortem, acute upper airway obstruction, sexual assault of a child under 13, Blackpool Victoria Hospital