Adoptive father denies abusing baby, says he cannot recall Snapchat video of breathing struggle

A teacher questioned over his adopted baby son's death denied abusing him and said he could not recall taking a Snapchat video of the child struggling to breathe, a court heard.

Jurors at Preston Crown Court watched a video of Jamie Varley being interviewed by detectives about events before 13-month-old Preston Davey died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in July 2023.

When asked about the baby's injuries, the 37-year-old Varley said, "I don't believe he had that many bruises."

Varley faces a murder charge. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, is charged with allowing the child's death. Both men also face sexual abuse charges.

Prosecutors allege that during the four months Preston lived with the couple in Blackpool after adoption, he suffered routine ill-treatment. They say indecent images and videos were taken of him, along with sexual abuse and physical assaults.

The case centers on an alleged final sexual assault by Varley that left the boy unconscious. The couple rushed him to hospital around 6:20 p.m. BST on July 27, 2023.

Varley denies murder, manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of child cruelty, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent photographs or videos of a child, one count of distributing an indecent photograph to his co-accused, and one count of making an indecent photograph.

McGowan-Fazakerley denies allowing the child's death, three counts of child cruelty, and one count of sexually assaulting a child.

Police questioned Varley about multiple bruises and injuries on Preston's body, including on both arms, legs, back, throat, bottom, and 24 bruises on his head, including behind the ear.

"There's a lot of injuries here," a detective told him. "We are not satisfied they are all accidental."

Varley replied, "I don't believe he had that many bruises. He has not been abused. He hasn't."

Detectives also asked about a Snapchat video taken about one hour and 45 minutes before the men took Preston, whom Varley had renamed Elijah, to the hospital.

Varley said he left the boy alone in the bath briefly, then returned to find him partially submerged.

The video, recorded while Varley was home alone with Preston, shows the child lying on a bed and struggling to breathe. Officers called it a distressing video.

"There's some concern about the content of the video. Why did you not do anything about it?" the detective asked.

Varley said he could not recall taking the video. He thought the baby was having a seizure, as he had before.

"He's a long way from fine in that video," the officer said. He added, "In my view, it's horrible."

Varley learned that an initial post-mortem showed Preston had not drowned in the bath, with no water in his lungs.

"Can you explain how else he might have died?" the detective asked.

Varley said the child was responsive when he pulled him from the bath but was "not a well little boy."