Teacher accused of murdering baby he was adopting denies taking 'trophy' pictures after alleged sexual abuse

Published: 22:42, 21 May 2026 | Updated: 22:42, 21 May 2026 A teacher on trial for the sexual abuse and murder of a baby he and his partner were adopting has denied making pictures and videos as 'trophies' of the abuse. Jamie Varley, 37, on Thursday told jurors photographs and footage of Preston Davey were taken because 'I wanted to capture all his life, every part of it'. Varley, on trial at Preston Crown Court, was quizzed by his barrister, Nicholas Johnson KC, about pictures of the 13-month-old. One showed the infant with an inflamed bottom, while a series of others showed him asleep, his arms outstretched and head slumped over the bars of his cot, where the prosecution alleged he had been sexually abused. The cot pictures were taken on July 23, when the prosecution allege Preston was sexually assaulted by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley. The incident was four days before the baby boy died from what a pathologist said was suffocation and a serious sexual assault. Mr Johnson asked: 'Were these pictures trophies of a sexual incident?' Varley replied: 'No they weren't'. Jamie Varley, 37, denies murder, sexual assault, cruelty and making indecent images Varley's partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, has pleaded not guilty to five charges Tragic baby Preston Davey, who died aged 13 months, was 'smothered and sexually assaulted', a court has heard He claimed he took the photographs of sleeping Preston to show his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley how he was 'sleeping in some funny positions' – and claimed the infant had fallen asleep in the position himself. Varley admitted putting a soft toy under Preston to support him. But Varley tearfully said he regretted taking the pictures. He said: 'I feel ashamed, I feel really ashamed. I did not mean to cause him distress or any harm. In that moment, I felt he was safe, he was fine. I just wanted to capture him getting into funny positions.' Varley said residue of liquid on the cot bars was from Preston being sick and may have been traces of formula milk. Varley went on to explain bruising found on Preston's body was because he was 'clumsy' and had 'almost daily falls'. He said: 'He was clumsy, very clumsy.'  Asked by Mr Johnson how regularly the infant would have 'mishaps' or falls, Varley replied: 'Daily'. The secondary school head of year was quizzed over a broken elbow Preston sustained on May 5. He said he and his partner arrived home after 11pm from a visit to McGowan-Fazakerley's parents in Cheshire and put Preston to bed. Varley described how he went to check on the infant and found him awake – telling him: 'what are you doing, cheeky boy, you should be asleep'. Varley said he tried to take Preston's arms from the side of the cot and he was 'jumping up and down'. 'He landed and twisted his arm', Varley said. He said that 'at that moment, I didn't think anything of it' and that it was only the following morning when he noticed Preston in pain while having breakfast. Varley also told of his regret over two other incidents – where he left Preston in the bath for 14 minutes on the afternoon of his death with the phone recording the baby as he was 'slipping and grumbling'. Mr Johnson asked: 'Why didn't you help him?' Varley, who lived with his partner in Blackpool at the time of Preston's death, answered: 'I appreciate it wasn't the best move but it was all for good intentions. I took it he was ok, banging his toys. I'm annoyed. I genuinely felt he was safe.' He also accepted that spinning Preston around on a playground 'teacup' ride at speed on July 19 – which videoed, sending footage to his partner and mother – was wrong. He said: 'It's not acceptable. I'm incredibly disappointed and angry with myself but at that moment, I didn't think I was doing anything wrong.' Varley denies charges of murder, manslaughter, indecent assault, GBH by breaking Preston's elbow, cruelty and making and sharing indecent images. McGowan-Fazakerley, a sales rep, denies causing or allowing the death of a child, indecent assault and cruelty. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.