A child safeguarding practice review has recommenced in Oldham to investigate whether crucial opportunities were overlooked in the care of Preston Davey, a 13-month-old boy murdered by his adoptive father. The review, initiated by Oldham Council, was temporarily halted during the criminal trial and will now focus on the period leading up to Preston's tragic death.
Jamie Varley, 37, was found guilty of the murder and sexual abuse of Preston following a four-month period of abuse. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was convicted of sexual assault, child cruelty, and allowing the child's death. Both men are awaiting sentencing later this week, on Thursday 18 June.
Evidence presented during the trial at Preston Crown Court revealed that Preston was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital on three separate occasions in the weeks before his death. On 25 May 2023, he was admitted unresponsive with breathing difficulties, and nursing staff noted bruising to his head. A medical report at the time identified "unexplained injuries, inconsistent with a version of events given." Hospital safeguarding teams were informed, and social services along with Lancashire Police were contacted. However, the bruises were not deemed suspicious for a child learning to walk.
Further hospital visits occurred on 30 June and 6 July 2023. During the second visit, medics again noted bruising to Preston's head, which was explained by the adoptive parents with a video of the child pulling a toy box onto himself. It was later discovered this video had been filmed 12 days prior. On the final visit, Varley took Preston to hospital for a fractured elbow, sustained, he claimed, while putting the child in his cot. Following this, Preston's social worker, Amy Shepherdson, reassured Varley that the hospital had "absolutely no concerns."
The resumed safeguarding review will now meticulously examine these instances and the responses from various professionals involved in Preston's care. It seeks to determine if there were any points at which interventions could have prevented the escalating abuse that ultimately led to the child's death. The findings of this review will be critical in informing future child protection policies and practices.