NewsUK NewsPreston Davey was left at the 'mercy' of his abusive adoptive parents, a court has heard - this is a breaking story19:32, 08 Jun 2026Updated 20:00, 08 Jun 2026A baby was left at the "mercy" of his abusive adoptive parents, a court has heard.‌Preston Davey, aged 13 months, died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in July 2023 after suffering 40 injuries over a four-month period while in the care of Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazackerley, prosecutors allege.‌Varley, 37, is accused of killing and sexually abusing baby Preston, whom he was in the process of adopting with his 32-year-old partner McGowan-Fazackerley, who is accused of causing or allowing the death of a child, child cruelty and sexual assault.‌During the four months the baby was under their adoption at their home in Blackpool, he was allegedly routinely ill-treated, had indecent images and videos taken of him, was sexually abused and physically assaulted.The two men, of Grimsargh, Preston, are on trial at Preston Crown Court charged with a string of offences against the baby. Both men deny all charges.‌Peter Wright KC, in his closing speech to the jury in the seventh week of the trial, said: "Preston Davey was just nine months old when he was placed with these defendants for adoption."It was supposed to be, you may conclude, the start of a new life together for each of them. Yet just a few days short of four months later Preston was dead and his body contained injuries both external and internal we say, consistent with his abuse."Concluding his speech, the prosecutor added: "Preston was at the mercy of Jamie Varley on the 27th of July, and paid for it with his life."Article continues belowVarley denies murder, manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent images or videos of a child, one count of distributing an indecent image of a child to his co-accused and one count of making an indecent image.McGowan-Fazakerley denies allowing the death of a child, three counts of child cruelty and one count of sexual assault of a child. The trial continues.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌CrimeBreaking News