Ex-teacher denies murdering baby he wanted to adopt

Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley appeared at Preston Crown Court

A former high school teacher has denied the murder and sexual assault of a baby boy.

Jamie Varley, 36, pleased not guilty to 33 charges relating to 13-month-old Preston Davey.

He was in the process of adopting the child with his co-accused, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, who denies four offences, and appeared at the same hearing at Preston Crown Court, both by videolink from HMP Durham.

The men spoke only to confirm their identities and deny the charges.

Preston's mother sat sobbing in the public gallery of the courtroom as the charges were read out.

Judge Robert Altham, Honorary Recorder of Preston, said: "I can only imagine how challenging that was for Preston's mother to hear.

"I'm sorry, but it does have to be done."

Suspended

Mr Varley denies the murder and manslaughter of Preston on 27 July 2023.

He has also pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty and one count of grievous bodily harm.

And he denies 12 counts of taking an indecent photo of a child, two counts of making an indecent photo of a child and one count of distributing an indecent photo of a child.

All the charges, involving still images and videos, relate to Preston Davey and are alleged to have occurred between March and July 2023.

He also denies seven counts of possession of extreme pornography, between 2017 and July 2023.

Mr Varley is also jointly charged with Mr McGowan-Fazakerley with one count of the sexual assault of Preston Davey, which he denies.

His co-accused pleaded not guilty to the same offence and also denies two counts of cruelty and one count of allowing the death of a child.

Judge Altham remanded both men, who lived in Grimsargh, near Preston, into custody ahead of a pre-trial hearing on in January.

A police investigation first began after officers were called to Blackpool Victoria Hospital at 19:15 BST on 27 July 2023 after the baby was brought in unresponsive.

Preston was pronounced dead a short time later.

Mr Varley was suspended as a teacher at South Shore Academy in Blackpool when he was arrested in 2023, the Cidari Multi Academy Trust which now runs the school said.