In just under four months, a 13-month-old baby boy suffered 40 traumatic injuries, sexual abuse, and ultimately death at the hands of the two men who adopted him—despite being seen by social workers and hospital staff multiple times. The case of Preston Davey has raised urgent questions about how adoption checks work in the UK and whether the system missed clear warning signs.
Preston Davey was born in June 2022 and taken into care by Oldham Council. He was placed with foster parents at five days old and remained with them for the first 10 months of his life. In April 2023, he began living with Jamie Varley, a teacher, and John McGowan-Fazakerley, a financial sales manager, who had been approved as adoptive parents. Varley took a year off work to adopt him. But within months, Preston was being routinely ill-treated, sexually abused and physically assaulted. On 27 July 2023, Varley rushed him to hospital claiming he had drowned in the bath, but a post-mortem found no evidence of drowning. The cause of death was acute upper airway obstruction by an object or objects inserted into his mouth. At trial, the prosecution said Varley used Preston as a sexual “plaything”. Varley was found guilty of murder and 25 other charges, while McGowan-Fazakerley was convicted of allowing his death, child cruelty and sexual assault. Both will be sentenced.
“The case of Preston Davey exposes gaps in adoption safeguarding in the UK.”
The case has highlighted potential gaps in the adoption process. Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley were approved for adoption and impressed social workers, according to reports. Yet in the months before his death, Preston was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital three times with suspicious bruises that were explained away by the couple. He was also seen by several social workers. The Daily Mail reported sources saying “it’s difficult to confront same-sex parents”, suggesting concerns may have been overlooked. The Guardian noted the case raises “wider questions about local authority adoption processes across the UK”.
For UK readers, this case matters because around 2,000 children are adopted from care each year, and the system relies on thorough vetting and monitoring of adoptive parents. The failure to intervene despite multiple NHS and social work contacts suggests that better training on recognising abuse in all family types, and more robust follow-up on unexplained injuries, may be needed. This case could lead to changes in how adoption agencies assess applicants and how they support children post-placement.
Q: What checks do adoptive parents go through in the UK? Adoptive parents undergo a rigorous assessment by a local authority or adoption agency, including interviews, home visits, medical checks, and references. They also attend preparation courses. The process typically takes several months.
Q: How could Preston Davey’s abuse have been missed? Preston was taken to hospital three times with suspicious bruises, but the explanations given by his adopters were accepted. He was also seen by social workers. The prosecution argued that the abuse started almost immediately after placement.
Q: What happens now for Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley? Both men will be sentenced on Thursday. Varley faces a mandatory life sentence for murder, while McGowan-Fazakerley faces a significant sentence for allowing the death and other offences.
The sentencing will take place this week, but wider questions remain. Local authorities and adoption agencies may review their practices to ensure that warning signs, especially in new adoptive placements, are taken more seriously. An independent inquiry or national guidance changes could follow.