The twisted life of teacher who killed his adopted son

The twisted life of teacher who killed his adopted son 36 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Lauren Hirst North West Lancashire Police Jamie Varley was given a whole life prison sentence for murdering and sexually abusing his adopted son In the months after he adopted Preston Davey, Jamie Varley's social media pages painted a picture of a loving family life but the reality was far more twisted and sinister. Preston was subjected to months of horrific physical, sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of Varley, who was trusted to take care of him. After an eight-week trial at Preston Crown Court, Varley, who claimed Preston had accidentally drowned in the bath, was found guilty of murdering him. The 37-year-old teacher, who was also convicted of sexually abusing his adopted son, was given a whole life order earlier. This means he will never be released from prison, except in exceptional compassionate circumstances. His partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was also sentenced to 25 years after being convicted of allowing the death of a child, child cruelty and sexual abuse. Warning: This article contains distressing information "They've tried to present as the perfect family, living in the perfect home, having the perfect lives," said Det Ch Insp Andy Fallows, who was the senior investigating officer on the case at Lancashire Police. "Instagram ready, aren't they?" Varley's social media feed included photos of himself, his immaculate home, successful career, and his miniature pincher dog Maximus, who the couple apparently doted on. Fallows said: "Everything's on social media, everything is brilliant, and I think if you scrape away the veneer of that you come to something that is entirely different. "Everything wasn't good within the household. "There were clearly arguments, bickering, clearly issues about long hours at work." Lancashire Police Preston Davey died in July 2023, four months after he was adopted Preston was immediately taken into care after being born on 16 June 2022 and was placed with foster parents at five days old. His mother, Sarah Davey, now 42, had been jailed at the age of 14 for the murder of a frail pensioner in 1998 and had been in and out of prison since then. Preston was adopted at nine months old in April 2023 by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley. The couple hosted a "Chosen Shower" with cake, decorations and balloon arch – with Varley painting a living room wall mural of "Preston Elijah", the name they chose to give him. Jurors have been shown footage of Jamie Varley being asked to come to his adopted son's bedside when medics could not revive him The pair met on Canal Street in Manchester's gay village in late 2018 and always wanted to start a family. Varley was described in court as a self-confessed "Drama Queen" while McGowan-Fazakerley, reserved and level-headed, was the "Steady Eddie" in their relationship. The couple, who lived together at their home in Blackpool in Lancashire, started the adoption proces