MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER AND SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING BABY
Warning: This profile contains details readers may find distressing.Update 15/06/2026: A teacher has been found guilty of sexually abusing and murdering the 13-month-old baby boy he adopted with his partner.
Preston Davey died in July 2023 at the hands of Jamie Varley, 37, who took a year off work to adopt him.
Varley, from Blackpool, told police Preston had accidentally drowned in a bath, but a post-mortem examination discovered the child had suffered 40 injuries.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Jamie Varley, aged 36 and residing in Grimsargh, Lancashire, has been formally charged with a series of grave criminal offenses, including the murder of a 13-month-old boy named Preston Davey.
The charges also encompass numerous serious sexual crimes and acts of child cruelty, which have shocked the local community and prompted a thorough investigation by law enforcement authorities.
Varley's arrest and subsequent court appearance followed the tragic death of young Preston, who was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital in July 2023.
Despite medical efforts, the infant was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The case has garnered significant media attention due to the disturbing nature of the allegations and the young age of the victim.
During a brief court hearing, Jamie Varley appeared wearing a beige polo shirt, with his collar-length dark hair streaked with blond.
He spoke only to confirm his identity, remaining silent on the details of the charges against him.
The hearing lasted approximately five minutes, during which the court was informed of the extensive list of accusations.
Varley's charges include one count of murder and one count of manslaughter, reflecting the severity of the allegations surrounding Preston's death.
Additionally, he faces two counts of assault by penetration of a child under 13, which are considered among the most serious sexual offenses under UK law.
The list of charges also includes five counts of child cruelty, one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm, and a sexual assault of a child under 13.
Further allegations involve the possession and distribution of indecent images, with ten counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, one count of distributing such images, and two counts of possessing pseudo images of a child.
The authorities also charged him with possessing an extreme pornographic image, highlighting the disturbing nature of the evidence collected.
Prior to his arrest, Jamie Varley was employed as a teacher at South Shore Academy in Blackpool.
The Cidari Multi-Academy Trust, which manages the school, confirmed that he was suspended from his teaching duties following his detention in 2023.
Varley's previous residence was in Blackpool, but he now resides on Chandlers Way in Grimsargh, near Preston.
The full list of charges against Jamie Varley includes: One count of murder - One count of manslaughter - Two counts of assault by penetration of a child under 13 - Five counts of cruelty to a person under 16 - One count of inflicting grievous bodily harm - One count of sexual assault of a child under 13 - Ten counts of taking indecent photographs of a child - One count of distributing indecent photographs of a child - Two counts of possession of an indecent pseudo image of a child - One count of possession of an extreme pornographic image These allegations represent a grave breach of trust and a series of heinous crimes that have deeply affected the community in Lancashire and beyond.
The case remains ongoing as authorities continue their investigation and prepare for the upcoming legal proceedings.
