A man accused of sexually abusing and killing an adopted baby was heard saying “I’m going to hell” while holding the deceased child, a court was told.
Jamie Varley, 37, allegedly made this statement in a video shown at Preston Crown Court, where he was seen cradling 13-month-old Preston Davey in the bereavement room at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
In the footage, Varley appeared to be in disbelief as he blamed himself for leaving the child unattended in the bath. He claimed to have found Preston face down shortly after, but prosecutors argue that his explanation is inconsistent, especially after a post-mortem revealed the baby had sustained 40 injuries.
Varley, who was a high school teacher at the time of the incident, is facing accusations of murdering the child. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, is also implicated for allegedly allowing the death and participating in sexual abuse.
Throughout the four months that Preston lived with them in Blackpool, it is alleged that the couple mistreated him, took indecent images and videos, sexually assaulted him, and physically harmed him.
On the day of the incident, the baby was taken to the hospital unconscious after Varley’s purported final assault. Despite efforts to revive him, Preston was declared dead around an hour later.
Jurors watched Varley collapse in the hospital, expressing guilt and despair over the tragic event. He repeatedly blamed himself, stating that he couldn’t bear the reality of what had happened.
The trial was adjourned for further proceedings.
