Behind the facade of Jamie Varley, the ‘wicked, arrogant liar’ who abused and murdered his baby son

Varley was prolific in taking photos and videos of Preston, some of which were used as evidence that he must have been physically, psychologically and sexually abusing his child. Illustration: Elizabeth Cook/PA

‘They were an ordinary couple,” said one neighbour. Their baby “was happy, he was smiley, he was beautiful”, said a friend. There were no big concerns about the teacher and the sales manager who were doing what thousands do every year – adopting a child.

In reality, Jamie Varley and his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, were child abusers and Varley murdered the baby boy they adopted, Preston Davey, when he was 13 months old.