The happy and playful baby boy who never stood a chance: Heartbreaking videos show giggling Preston Davey months before he was abused and murdered at hands of adoptive father

By OLIVIA CHRISTIE, NEWS REPORTER and RICHARD MARSDEN, GENERAL REPORTER and LIZ HULL, NORTHERN CORRESPONDENT Published: 15:43, 18 June 2026 | Updated: 15:59, 18 June 2026 Heartbreaking videos show little Preston Davy giggling and trying to say his first words before he was sent to live with the adoptive father who would sexually abuse, torture, and murder him.  A tragic clip released by Lancashire Police today shows a happy and healthy Preston before he was taken out of foster care and moved into the home of Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley.  The little boy, who is wearing a yellow Batman jumper, was filmed playfully giggling and trying to speak, as he lies on someone's lap on the sofa. Toys can be seen in the background.  In contrast, a horrifying video - filmed just months later and after he had moved in with Varley and his boyfriend- shows Preston being deliberately kept awake.  In the upsetting 43-second clip, filmed on the evening of June 15, hours before Preston turned one, the tot can be seen desperately trying to sleep while Varley plays the soundtrack to the Disney film Moana loudly on the television in the background. As he shuts his eyes, the evil former teacher shouts 'Boo', causing Preston, who is dressed in just a nappy, to startle awake. The harrowing video shows the sleep-deprived little boy, clearly confused and desperately tired, smiling as he tries not to nod off.  Jamie Varley, 37, a former teacher, will die in jail after he was sentenced today to a whole life order for the killing of the 13-month-old baby boy during a sex assault in July 2023. His partner, 32-year-old sales manager John McGowan-Fazakerley, who was complicit in Preston's death and also sexually abused him, was sentenced to 25 years. Preston's short and tragic life was bookmarked by murder after he was taken out of the care of his mother - convicted killer Sarah Davey - at just five days old. He was placed into foster care before he was adopted by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley when he was nine months old.  Heartbreaking videos show Preston Davey giggling and trying to say his first words before he was sexually abused and murdered by his cruel adoptive father In an upsetting clip taken after Preston was adopted, he can be seen seen desperately trying to sleep while Varley plays the soundtrack to the Disney film Moana loudly on the television  Jamie Varley, 37, (left) was found guilty of sexually abusing and murdering Preston and his boyfriend, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, (right) was also convicted of being complicit in his sex abuse and death Varley sent the video of a sleep deprived Preston to his boyfriend accomplice, McGowan-Fazakerley, who was away on a work trip and waiting for a delayed flight home. Preston Crown Court heard Varley was 'sick' of McGowan-Fazakerley being away, and frustrated that he was being left at home to care for the infant alone. The pair bickered in texts, with Varley blaming his partner for catching a late flight, telling him it was his 'f***ing fault, now f*** off.' Later that evening he took out his resentment and frustration on Preston, who died with 40 separate injuries, by sexually assaulting him.  Another video found on Varley's mobile phone, taken around 10.30pm and which showed Preston having an apparent seizure, was the aftermath of that attack, police said. In more footage taken a few days later, which was also released today, Varley stands by and continues filming as Preston accidentally pulls a heavy wooden toybox activity abacus onto his head. Varley can be heard saying, 'oopsie,' before going to Preston's aid. Preston was born to Davey (pictured at court today) in June 2022 while she was serving a life sentence and in and out of prison after being convicted of murder  Preston died less than six weeks after the home video was filmed. He had been repeatedly sexually abused and murdered Preston Davey with his birth mother Sarah Davey, who carried out a horrific crime as a teenager  Manipulative Varley played the footage to nurses at Blackpool Victoria Hospital when Preston was admitted on June 30 after they questioned how he had come by bruises on his forehead. But he failed to tell them that, in truth, the video had been taken 12 days earlier and couldn't have caused the injury. Detectives from Lancashire Police said the sex abuse and murder of Preston was 'one of the most harrowing' cases they had ever investigated. This morning ahead of Varley's sentencing, Preston's birth mother, Davey, sobbed in court as she told her son's adoptive killer fathers, 'I will never forgive you'. She said in a statement her 'world ended' when she found out her son had died, adding that she now lives with the 'unimaginable pain of wondering what he went through'. Passing sentence at Preston Crown Court today, Mr Justice Mark Turner said Preston had 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, who vomited in the dock when he was convicted of murder on Monday, looked gaunt and sat with his hands folded on his lap, looking straight ahead. Preston was born to Davey in June 2022 while she was in and out of prison after being convicted of the callous killing of a pensioner when she was 14 years old. She and 15-year-old Lisa Healey tortured 71-year-old Lily Lilley by squirting shampoo in her eyes, cutting her with a knife and tying a gag around her mouth. Preston's biological mother Sarah Davey, 42, with Gary Nolan, 43, at the murder trial An emotional Davey told the court today: 'The second he was placed in my arms, I fell completely in love with him. 'He was my baby, my only son, and from that day on I never wanted to let him go,' she says. '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.' She also called the day he was taken from her 'one of the worst days of my life' and sobbed as her statement was read out. 'I had no choice in that decision. I tried to take some comfort in believing he would be safe, loved, and protected, and he was with his foster parents, Sandra and Paul, I trusted them, they and the system trusted you, that trust was completely and unforgivably broken,' she says. 'Preston was innocent. He was defenceless. He relied entirely on you - the adults responsible for him - to love him, care for him, and keep him safe. 'Instead, you caused him suffering. You took away his chance to grow up, to go to school, to make friends, to live a full life. You took everything from him.' Preston died on July 27, 2023 after Varley, who was a head of year and safeguarding lead at a comprehensive school, twice sexually assaulted him while McGowan-Fazakerley, an accounts manager for a finance firm, was at work. The men rushed Preston to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, where doctors tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate him for 50 minutes, before he was pronounced dead at 7.18pm. A review is now underway to work out how the men were able to carry out their warped fantasies and harm the infant, whose adoption had not been legally finalised, under the noses of social workers. It is expected to examine whether political correctness or a fear of challenging the gay couple could have played a part in the state's failure to protect vulnerable Preston. A Government spokesperson said Jamie Varley and partner John McGowan-Fazakerley were 'evil abusers' who exploited a vulnerable child. The spokesperson said: 'The public rightly demand answers about what went wrong and we can assure them we will make sure anyone responsible for negligence faces consequences. 'This is exactly why this Government has brought in the most far-reaching child protection reforms in a generation, including with a new law, the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act, which requires social workers, health professionals and the police to work together better to protect vulnerable children at risk of abuse. 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.' - To find out how Rory Tingle revealed a bombshell update on The Putney Pusher case sign up to The Crime Desk newsletter HERE No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. 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