Stephanie Bjork

The trial of a homosexual couple who adopted a baby boy will begin this month in Preston Crown Court in England. Jamie Varley, aged 36, and John McGowan-Fazakerley, aged 31 stand accused of raping a 13 month old baby to death within 3 months of the child being placed in their care. 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. 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, relateD 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. Varley is also jointly charged with 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.