That concludes our live coverage of the sentencing hearing.

To recap what happened at Preston Crown Court earlier: A teacher who sexually abused and murdered the 13-month-old baby boy he adopted with his partner has been told he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Preston Davey died in July 2023 at the hands of Jamie Varley, 37, who subjected the child to physical, sexual and emotional abuse during the final four months of his life.

Varley, from Blackpool, told police Preston had accidentally drowned in a bath, but a post-mortem examination discovered the child had suffered 40 injuries.

His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, who was found guilty of sexual assault, child cruelty and allowing the death of a child, was sentenced to 25 years.

A whole life order means Varley will never be released from prison, except in exceptional compassionate circumstances.

You can read Lauren Hirst's full report here.

Lauren Hirst
BBC News

Image source, Lancashire Police

In the months after he adopted Preston Davey, Jamie Varley's social media pages painted a picture of a loving family life.

Varley's feed included snaps of himself, his immaculate home, successful career, and his miniature Pinscher dog Maximus, who he doted upon.

The couple also hosted a "Chosen Shower" with cake, decorations and balloon arch, with Varley painting a living room wall mural of "Preston Elijah", the name they chose to give him.

But the reality was far more twisted and sinister. Read more here.

Children's charity, the NSPCC, said the trial and sentencing hearing had revealed "the full extent of the pain and suffering endured by Preston Davey in his short life".

To learn of the abuse inflicted on him by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley before his murder is harrowing and deeply upsetting, and it must drive a thorough meaningful review and scrutiny, the charity said.

A spokesperson added: "There are clearly important lessons from this terrible case, and the child safeguarding practice preview must establish whether more could have been done to protect Preston, and how we can learn from any failings to prevent future tragedies where possible.

"At the same time, it is vital to remember that we can all help keep children safe.

"By asking questions – sometimes difficult ones – and by sharing information or concerns with someone who can help, we can create a safer environment for children to grow up in and help ensure that no child falls through the gaps."

Jonny Humphries
North West

Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, Josh MaCalister, said he has instructed experts to examine the Preston Davey case.

"It's a really shocking case, people will look at it and feel sick," he said.

"That's how I felt, and the people who committed these appalling crimes are evil, there's no other way to put it."

MaCalister added: "The independent safeguarding review that's now being done will establish more of the facts, but I have asked some independent experts to go and look at Oldham, the hospital trust and the adoption agency to see whether things we already know have been acted upon."

The 13-month old's biological dad Gary Nolan also appeared on Preston Crown Court steps with Lancashire Police.

Nolan told the court earlier: "Preston was the son that I never got to meet and now never will."

Sarah Davey, Preston Davey's biological mum, and Debbie Davey, his grandmother, come out of the sentencing hearing looking visibly upset and pained.

They delivered their victim impact statements again on the steps outside Preston Crown Court.

Sarah Davey said she now lived with the "unimaginable pain of wondering" what her son went through in the final months of his life.

Part of the child safeguarding practice review into Preston's death will focus on whether any opportunities were missed in his care before his death.

Read our timeline of the key moments outlined during the trial at Preston Crown Court.

Image source, Handout

Jonny Humphries
North West

After the sentencing, the detective who led the investigation into Preston Davey's death, Det Ch Insp Andy Fallows of Lancashire Police, described Jamie Varley as an "evil and monstrous individual who sexually, physically and mentally abused a vulnerable baby for his own sadistic pleasure".

Fallows said it had been "one of the most challenging investigations" his team had undertaken.

He described Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley's offending as "the most extreme example of sordid and wicked behaviour by two completely remorseless human beings.

"This is a case which has truly shocked the nation," he added.

"I don’t want the victim in this case - baby Preston Davey - to be lost in the headlines. He was a happy and thriving boy who would have been celebrating his fourth birthday two days ago."

Lancashire Police have released a video of Preston Davey laughing in the care of his foster parents Sandra Cooper and Paul Cooper.

It was taken before he was adopted in 2023 by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley.

Lauren Hirst
BBC News

Following the sentencing hearing, a government spokesperson said: “This is a sickening case of evil abusers exploiting a vulnerable child.

"The public rightly demand answers about what went wrong and we can assure them we will make sure anyone responsible for negligence faces consequences."

They said the government had brought in the "most far-reaching child protection reforms in a generation" with the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act.

It requires social workers, health professionals and the police to work together better to protect vulnerable children at risk of abuse.

They said: "We are also introducing a new Child Protection Authority in England to oversee the national picture.”

“An independent review has been commissioned by the local authorities and the independent national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel will work with them to get to the bottom of this horrifying case.

"The reviewer will publish their findings as soon as possible.”

Jonny Humphries
North West

Since the abolition of the death penalty, decades ago, a whole-life order is the most severe punishment a criminal court can impose on a defendant in the UK.

It means there is no chance the defendant will ever be released on licence and will spend the rest of their life in prison.

Even in extremely harrowing murder cases, the statutory tests are not always met and judges often instead opt for life sentences with lengthy minimum terms in prison - after which the defendant could apply for parole.

Recent whole life order recipients have included neonatal nurse turned child serial killer Lucy Letby and Wayne Couzens, the serving Met Police officer who murdered Sarah Everard.

There are believed to be about 70 people serving whole life orders in British prisons.

Yunus Mulla
BBC North West Tonight

The judge says 13-month-old Preston faced “unremitting abuse” and neglect before being killed by Varley during a sex attack.

Turning to Varley, he said: “It was you who did this. You murdered him.

“A whole life order is a sentence of last resort for cases of the most extreme gravity.

“This is a case of the most extreme gravity.

"You must stay in prison for the rest of your life. You will never be eligible for parole.”

Varley rushes to the exit inside the dock after the sentence is handed down.

The judge thanks the jury for their hard work and for what they had to endure during the trial.

John McGowan-Fazakerley has been sentenced to 25 years.

He was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.

Teacher Jamie Varley, 37, has been sentenced at Preston Crown Court to a whole life order for the murder and sexual abuse of his adopted baby Preston Davey.

He was convicted of murder, 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 photos or videos of a child, one of distributing an indecent photo of a child, to his co-accused, and one of making an indecent photo.

Yunus Mulla
BBC North West Tonight

The judge continues: "The seriousness of your offending is exceptionally high and the appropriate starting point is whole life order.

"This is a case of extreme gravity ... you will never be eligible for parole."

A whole life order means you will never be released from prison, except in exceptional compassionate circumstances.

Danny Savage
North of England correspondent

The judge continues: "Preston was having a seizure. You videoed it. I’m sure it was caused by your further abuse.

"His lips were blue. He was plainly in need of urgent medical attention.

"You were the only person with Preston that afternoon. It was you. You murdered him."

The judge is now explaining the sentencing guidelines.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story, help and support is available at the BBC Action Line.

Yunus Mulla
BBC North West Tonight

The judge says Varley had told friends of "harmful thoughts" towards Preston.

He says: "It proved to be a terrible omen."

He describes how Varley videod a seizure on the day Preston died.

The judge says the seizures were caused by abuse.

"He was plainly in need or urgent medical attention but this not happen because of fear of discovery of what you had done to him," he says.

Both defendants are sitting in the dock listening to the judge.

Varley is sitting with his hands clasped, holding a tissue.

McGowan-Fazakerley is sitting with his legs crossed, with one hand over the other on his lap.

Image source, Lancashire Police

Yunus Mulla
BBC North West Tonight

Mr Justice Turner said content on Varley's phone had become increasingly "sinister" as his resentment towards Preston increased.

The judge is now going through some of the evidence, including a video recorded by Varley to the background sound of the film Moana.

In that video he wakes up Preston by shouting "boo" at him.

During the trial this was used as evidence of cruelty.

Mr Justice Turner continues:

"Preston was noted to be a healthy baby when he was entrusted to your care.

"You, Varley, were primarily responsible for the daytime care of Preston.

"Unfortunately Preston proved to be restless at night.

"Otherwise he was described as a dream to care for.

"I’m sure that your growing and selfish resentment towards Preston played a part in your treatment of Preston."