Baby Preston: System Looked Away

A U.K. jury found two gay men guilty of murdering and sexually abusing a 13-month-old baby they had adopted — and now serious questions are being raised about whether “woke” fear of appearing homophobic let the abuse go unchecked.

Story Highlights

Jamie Varley, 37, was convicted of murder, sexual assault, cruelty, and over a dozen charges tied to indecent images of baby Preston Davey.
His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was convicted of allowing the child’s death and sexual assault of a child.
Preston was taken to the hospital three times with bruising and other injuries before his death — but social workers and medical staff failed to act.
Preston’s biological grandmother suggested authorities may have held back out of fear of being called homophobic.

A Baby’s Short, Brutal Life in Adoptive Care

Preston Davey was adopted in April 2023 when he was about nine months old. His adoptive parents were Jamie Varley, a high school teacher, and John McGowan-Fazakerley, a salesman. Just 115 days after being placed with the two men, Preston was dead. He was 13 months old. A post-mortem exam found 40 traumatic injuries on his tiny body, including dozens of external bruises and severe internal injuries consistent with sexual abuse.

Prosecutors told the court that Preston suffered repeated physical and sexual abuse while in the couple’s care. The cause of death was acute upper airway obstruction — meaning something was placed in or over his mouth to stop his breathing. Varley told hospital staff he had left Preston in the bath briefly and returned to find him underwater. The jury did not believe him. After six to seven weeks of harrowing testimony, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on every charge.

The Charges and What the Court Found

Varley was convicted of murder, two counts of penetrating assault of a child, five counts of cruelty to a child, one count of grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, and more than a dozen counts tied to taking, making, or sharing indecent images and videos of the baby. McGowan-Fazakerley was convicted of allowing the death of a child, child cruelty, and sexual assault of a child. He was not present when Preston died but was found to be fully complicit in the ongoing abuse.

Evidence showed Preston was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital three times in less than four months. Each time, medical staff noted bruising on his body. On one visit, a hospital safeguarding team referred the matter to police — but the case was closed after a consultant said there was nothing to worry about. Social workers also made home visits but failed to identify the abuse. Preston was brought to the hospital a fourth and final time on July 27, 2023. He died that day.

Did Fear of “Homophobia” Accusations Cost Preston His Life?

Preston’s biological grandmother spoke out after the verdict. She told the Daily Mail that social services may have been reluctant to act because they feared being accused of homophobia. “They didn’t see through them and see what was going on,” she said. Her concern is shared by commentators who point out that in the United Kingdom’s public sector, an accusation of homophobia can end a career just as quickly as a racism charge.

GB News presenter Patrick Christys raised the same concern after the verdict, asking whether diversity and inclusion training was “clouding the judgment of social workers and medical professionals, and ultimately costing children their lives.” The adoption itself moved quickly after approval by Oldham Council’s Adoption Panel and the agency Adoption Now. Critics argue that the speed of the process and the lack of hard questions along the way reflected a system more focused on diversity optics than child safety. A full review of how Preston’s case was handled by child protection services is now expected.