Blackpool Tower lights up for murdered Preston Davey

A vigil for Preston Davey, the toddler murdered by his adoptive father, saw people travel the length of the country to pay their respects.

Jamie Varley, 37, was given a whole life term for inflicting "unremitting abuse" on the infant before a final sexual assault caused fatal injuries on 27 July 2023, his trial at Preston Crown Court heard.

Varley's partner John McGowan Fazakerley was also sentenced to 25 years for allowing the death of a child and sexually abusing the boy.

The event in Blackpool, to mark three years since Preston's death, was attended by about 150 people and saw Blackpool Tower lit up blue in his memory.

Preston's birth mother Sarah Davey and father Gary Nolan also attended the event.

Organiser Jim McMillan said he wanted to arrange the vigil to pay his respects to a baby who "died unnecessarily".

"It's got really big, bigger than I thought," he said.

"I thought it would be really easy to organise but it got very emotional, I had to get a lot of help from a lot of people, I couldn't do it on my own."

McMillan said he had spoken to people from as far as Scotland, Kent and Wales at the event.

He said the child's mother, who he helped with transport, was "upset but moved" by the vigil, which saw people lay down flowers, cards and children's stuffed toys.

"I wouldn't like to imagine what she's gone through," he added.

Kay Young, from Blackpool, was among those who attended.

She said her own experiences in the care system prompted her to head to Blackpool's promenade to take part.

"Unfortunately I nearly was a victim of the same situation, but luckily I got out at nearly seven-years-old," she said.

"The system's failed and has been ever since I was a kid - and I'm 30."

She said she wanted to "pay my respects to a little boy who lost his life".

Since Varley was sentenced the government has pledged to instruct independent experts to examine the roles played by Oldham Council, which handled the adoption process, and Blackpool Victoria Hospital, where Varley took Preston several times, over the time of the boy's short life.

A Child Safeguarding Practice Review is already under way into various agencies which had contact with Preston Davey.

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