Former Teacher Denies Murder and Sexual Assault Charges of 13-Month-Old Boy

Jamie Varley, 36, a former high school teacher from Lancashire, has denied the murder and sexual assault of a baby boy, Preston Davey. Varley appeared at Preston Crown Court via video link from the city's prison, pleading not guilty to 33 charges, including murder, manslaughter, assault by penetration, and possession of extreme pornography. His co-accused, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, also denies four offences and appeared at the same hearing via video link from HMP Durham.

Key Takeaways:

• Varley denies the murder and manslaughter of Preston Davey on July 27, 2023, as well as two counts of assault by penetration and five counts of cruelty.
• The charges involve still images and videos of Preston Davey, alleged to have occurred between March and July 2023.
• Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley are jointly charged with one count of the sexual assault of Preston Davey, which they both deny.
• The pair also denies seven counts of possession of extreme pornography, between 2017 and July 2023.
• A police investigation began after officers were called to Blackpool Victoria Hospital on July 27, 2023, where Preston was pronounced dead a short time later.
• Varley was suspended as a teacher at South Shore Academy in Blackpool when he was arrested in 2023.

Statistics:

• 33 charges: murder, manslaughter, assault by penetration, cruelty, grievous bodily harm, taking indecent photos of a child, making indecent photos of a child, and distributing indecent photos of a child.
• 12 counts of taking indecent photos of a child.
• 2 counts of making indecent photos of a child.
• 1 count of distributing indecent photos of a child.
• 7 counts of possession of extreme pornography.
• 45 minutes: the duration of the hearing.
• April 2026: the scheduled date for the trial.

Sources:

• "Former teacher from Lancashire denies murder and sexual assault of baby boy", an unknown source (no publication date mentioned).
• Court transcript from Preston Crown Court (no date mentioned).
• Blackpool Victoria Hospital (no publication date mentioned).
• Cidari Multi Academy Trust (no publication date mentioned).