Latest news with #JohnMcGowanFazakerley
Sky News
a day ago
- Sky News
'Teacher' charged with murdering baby he was adopting
A teacher has appeared in court charged with sexually assaulting and murdering a 13-month-old baby boy whom he was in the process of adopting. Jamie Varley, believed to be a secondary school teacher, is also accused of cruelty offences and indecent image charges relating to Preston Davey. Preston was to be adopted by Varley, 36, and the co-accused John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31. Varley only spoke to confirm his identity during the brief hearing at Lancaster Magistrates' Court on Friday. He is accused of murder, two counts of sexual assault of a male child under 13, inflicting grievous bodily harm, and five counts of child cruelty. Varley is also accused of 10 counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, two counts of possessing indecent images of a child, one count of distributing an indecent image of a child, and one count of possessing an extreme image. Varley was remanded in custody until Monday, when he will appear before a judge at a crown court. Following the brief hearing, his co-accused, McGowan-Fazakerley, was also brought into the dock. McGowan-Fazakerley is charged with allowing the death of a child, as well as two counts of child cruelty and one count of sexual assault of a child. He was also remanded in custody. The charges for both men span between March and July 2023 - and relate to Preston Davey. Police began investigating after officers were called to Blackpool Victoria Hospital around 7.15pm on 27 July 2023, shortly after Preston was brought in unresponsive. He died in the hospital not long afterwards.
The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
Blackpool teacher charged with sexual assault and murder of baby
A secondary school teacher has appeared in court accused of the sexual assault and murder of a 13-month-old baby boy he was adopting. Jamie Varley, 36, who was a head of year at a school in Blackpool, is also accused of a number of counts of assault, cruelty and taking and distributing indecent images relating to Preston Davey. Varley was in the process of adopting Preston along with the co-accused John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31. Both men appeared in court on Friday, nearly two years after police were called to Blackpool Victoria hospital, where the one-year-old died on 27 July 2023. Preston was taken into care by Oldham council six days after he was born, the Blackpool Gazette reported. After spending some time in foster care, a court order allowed him to be placed for adoption and he was moved to Blackpool on 3 April 2023. He died barely three months later. Varley spoke only to confirm his identity during the five-minute hearing at Lancaster magistrates court. The defendant is also accused of one count of manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration of a child, five counts of child cruelty, one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm and one count of sexual assault of a child. He is further accused of 10 counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, one count of distributing indecent photographs of a child, two counts of possessing indecent pseudo-images of a child and one count of possession of an extreme pornographic image. Varley was teaching at South Shore academy, run by the Cidari multi-academy trust in Blackpool, when he was arrested in 2023. School records show that at various times he was head of years 9, 10 and 11. In a statement, the trust said: 'Our thoughts are with the family of Preston Davey and all those affected by this case.' It said South Shore academy was run by Bright Futures Education Trust at the time of Varley's arrest and he was immediately suspended while the police investigation was under way. His suspension continued when the academy was later transferred to Cidari Multi Academy Trust. 'During this time he has not been permitted on to, or attended, school premises, or been permitted to contact pupils or colleagues.' The trust said senior leaders and specialist staff had been providing support to colleagues and pupils at the academy on Friday. It added: 'Following the decision to charge Mr Varley, and the nature of those charges, Cidari is now considering its position in relation to Mr Varley's employment. 'This will be done in consultation with other agencies and within the relevant legislation and statutory.' McGowan-Fazakerley is charged with allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty and one of sexual assault of a child. The defendant confirmed his identity and was also remanded into custody. All the charges for both men, spanning March to July 2023, relate to Preston. Both men, from Grimsargh, near Preston, will appear at Preston crown court on Monday.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
‘Teacher' accused of murder and sex assault of baby he adopted
A man has appeared in court accused of the sexual assault and murder of a 13-month-old baby boy he was adopting. Jamie Varley, believed to have worked as a high school teacher, is also accused of multiple counts of assault, cruelty and indecent images all relating to the baby, Preston Davey. The 36-year-old was in the process of adopting Preston along with co-accused John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, who also appeared in court. Varley spoke only to confirm his identity during the brief, five-minute hearing at Lancaster Magistrates' Court on Friday. The defendant, wearing a beige polo shirt with collar-length dark hair with blond streaks, is also accused of one count of manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration of a child, five counts of child cruelty, one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm, and one count of sexual assault of a child. He is further accused of 10 counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, one count of distributing indecent photographs of a child, two counts of possessing indecent pseudo images of a child, and one count of possession of an extreme pornographic image. District Judge Richard Thompson, addressing Varley, said: 'You are charged with a number of offences. The murder of Preston Davey, manslaughter, assault by penetration, a number of sexual assaults, grievous bodily harm and also the possession, taking and distribution of indecent and extreme images. 'You know what all the charges are and you understand them?' Varley nodded in reply. He was remanded into custody until he appears before a judge at a crown court on Monday. After he was taken down, his co-accused, McGowan-Fazakerley, was then brought into the dock for a second short hearing. He is charged with allowing the death of a child, as well as two counts of child cruelty and one count of sexual assault of a child. The defendant, wearing jeans and a sweatshirt patterned with images of owls and half-moons, confirmed his identity and was also remanded into custody. All the charges for both men, spanning between March and July of 2023, relate to Preston Davey. A police investigation first begun after officers were called to Blackpool Victoria Hospital at 7.15pm on July 27, 2023 after the baby was brought in unresponsive. Preston was pronounced dead a short time later. Both men, who lived in Grimsargh near Preston, will next appear at Preston Crown Court on Monday.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
Man charged over murder of baby boy
A man has been charged with murdering a 13-month-old boy, as well as serious sexual and child cruelty offences. Jamie Varley is accused of killing Preston Davey, who died in Blackpool in July 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service said. The 36-year-old also faces two counts of assault by penetration of a child, five counts of child cruelty, one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm and one count of sexual assault of a child. He is further accused of 10 counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, one count of distributing indecent photographs of a child, two counts of possessing indecent pseudo images of a child, and one count of possession of an extreme pornographic image. Police were called to Blackpool Victoria Hospital at 7.15pm on July 27 2023 after Preston was brought in unresponsive. The infant was pronounced dead a short time later. The Crown Prosecution Service said John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, Varley's co-accused, is alleged to have allowed the death of a child, and faces two counts of child cruelty and one count of sexual assault of a child. All of the charges the men face relate to Preston, Lancashire Police said. Both men, of Grimsargh, are due to appear at Lancaster magistrates' court on Friday.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Blackpool man charged with murder and assault of baby boy
A man has been charged with the murder of a 13-month-old boy in Blackpool nearly two years were called at about 19:15 BST on 27 July 2023 after an unresponsive baby boy was taken to Blackpool Victoria Davey was pronounced dead a short time later, said Lancashire Varley, 36, has been charged with murder and a series of sexual and child cruelty offences. Due in court John McGowan-Fazakerley, 31, is accused of causing or allowing the death of a child as well as child cruelty and sexual from Blackpool, both men are now of Chandlers Way in Grimsargh, near are due to appear before magistrates in Lancaster later. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Mr Varley also faces two counts of assault by penetration of a child, five counts of child cruelty, one count of inflicting grievous bodily harm, and one count of sexual assault of a is further accused of 10 counts of taking indecent photographs of a child, one count of distributing indecent photographs of a child, two counts of possessing indecent pseudo-images of a child, and one count of possession of an extreme pornographic CPS said McGowan-Fazakerley is alleged to have allowed the death of a child, as well as two counts of child cruelty and one count of sexual assault of a of the allegations relate to the same victim, police said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
