At Preston Crown Court, Jamie Varley faced detailed questioning about the death of 13-month-old Preston Davey, the baby boy he had adopted. During the proceedings, evidence from recorded police body-worn camera footage was presented to the jury, bringing renewed attention to Varley’s account of what happened before Preston died. The footage included Varley saying that what happened was his fault, while he later maintained that the allegations against him were untrue.

Varley, 37, denies murdering and sexually abusing Preston at his home in Blackpool in 2023. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, also denies charges connected with the child’s death and alleged abuse. The case has focused on the circumstances surrounding Preston’s final hours, Varley’s explanation of the events, and medical evidence heard by the court.

Varley Describes the Bath Incident

Questioned for a second day by his defence barrister, Nick Johnson KC, Varley told the jury that he had been showering while Preston was sitting in a bath chair in the bath. According to his account, he briefly left the bathroom to get a towel.

Varley said he believed he had been away for only a few seconds, although he estimated that the absence might have lasted one or two minutes. When he returned, he found Preston in the water in a position different from the way he had left him.

He told the court that he was unsure whether the baby had been face down in the water. Describing his reaction, Varley said his legs had turned to jelly when he saw Preston. He claimed that he immediately knelt down and lifted the child out of the water as quickly as possible.

Varley described the incident as a frightening near miss, saying he had initially feared that the situation could have been much worse.

He also told the jury that Preston’s stomach appeared distended. He believed the baby might have swallowed bathwater, so he rubbed his belly in an attempt to help him.

Johnson then directly challenged Varley about the account, asking whether the entire episode had been invented. Varley firmly denied making it up, insisting there was no reason for him to fabricate such a story.

Recorded Footage and Questions About Responsibility

Varley subsequently described how Preston became increasingly unwell and began vomiting frequently. He said he hit the baby on the back and rubbed his stomach in an effort to help him.

McGowan-Fazakerley returned home after being out. Varley became emotional while recounting how he told his partner that he did not think Preston was breathing. The couple then took the child to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, where he died in July 2023, aged 13 months.

During the trial, Johnson played Varley police body-worn camera footage that had previously been shown to the jury. In the recording, Varley said that what had happened was his fault. He explained that he believed he was responsible because he had walked out of the bathroom, adding that he had not known Preston had not drowned.

The court had also heard evidence from a doctor who said that Preston had no water in his lungs during the post-mortem examination.

Varley told the court that he had not known he was being filmed at the hospital. When asked how he felt about Preston’s death now, he said he believed the couple had not been given enough time to grieve and were still searching for answers. He maintained that the allegations against him were completely wrong.

The trial was temporarily paused after Varley reported feeling unwell shortly after the start of cross-examination by Ann Whyte KC, who represents McGowan-Fazakerley. Proceedings later resumed.

Disputed Trust and Serious Allegations

During her cross-examination, Whyte set out the prosecution’s case that Preston’s death was caused by someone deliberately obstructing his breathing. She suggested that Varley had done something to prevent the child from breathing while McGowan-Fazakerley was away from home.

Whyte told the court that her client accepted this evidence but did not want to believe Varley was capable of such an act. Varley responded that he knew McGowan-Fazakerley believed he was not capable of it.

Whyte then argued that the trust McGowan-Fazakerley had placed in Varley had been misplaced. Varley rejected the suggestion, saying he would not have put his partner in this position.

Varley denies murder, manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of child cruelty, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, and multiple offences involving indecent images or videos of a child. These include allegations of taking 13 indecent photographs or videos, distributing an indecent photograph to his co-accused, and making an indecent photograph.

McGowan-Fazakerley denies allowing the death of a child, three counts of child cruelty, and one count of sexual assault of a child.

As the trial continues, the jury is hearing competing accounts of Preston’s final hours, including Varley’s explanation, the recorded footage, and the medical evidence. The central allegations remain disputed, and Varley continues to deny the charges against him.