UK court finds man guilty of sexual abuse and murder of adopted baby

Artist drawing of Jamie Varley in court for the murder of 13-month-old Preston Davey.

Photograph: Elizabeth Cook/PA Artist drawing of Jamie Varley in court for the murder of 13-month-old Preston Davey.

Photograph: Elizabeth Cook/PA UK court finds man guilty of sexual abuse and murder of adopted baby Schoolteacher Jamie Varley described as ‘serial manipulator and a serial liar’ in Lancashire court A schoolteacher described as a “serial manipulator and a serial liar” has been found guilty of sexually abusing and murdering a baby he adopted.

Jamie Varley, 37, of Staining, Lancashire, had denied the murder of 13-month-old Preston Davey and 25 other offences but was found guilty after an eight-week trial.

Preston Davey died as a result of acute upper airways obstruction.

Photograph: X/Lancashire police The head of year at a secondary school had adopted Preston with his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, a financial sales manager, who was found guilty of allowing the death of a child. The baby died as a result of acute upper airways obstruction by either smothering or an object or objects being inserted into his mouth.

Jamie Varley.

Photograph: Lancashire police His death came at the end of four months during which he was “ routinely ill-treated, sexually abused and physically assaulted ”, the prosecutor Peter Wright KC had told a trial at Preston crown court.

DCI Andy Fellows of Lancashire police, the senior investigating officer, said Varley had shown himself to be “a serial manipulator and a serial liar”.

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