The mother of murdered baby Preston Davey had a dark past, being known as one of Britain’s most infamous teenage killers for her involvement in the brutal murder of a grandmother years ago. Jamie Varley now faces life imprisonment for the tragic death of 13-month-old Preston. It has come to light that Sarah, Preston’s mother, was only 14 when she and a friend viciously attacked Lily Lilley, a 71-year-old woman they had befriended in Failsworth, Greater Manchester. Lily was subjected to cruelty, including being squirted with shampoo, cut with a knife, and ultimately left to die in a canal after being gagged and her body discarded in a wheelie bin.
Following the heinous crime, Sarah and her accomplice took over Lily’s residence, abusing her phone and pension funds for their own benefit. Sarah’s past caught up with her after Preston’s tragic demise, with her mother expressing concern about the resurfacing of her daughter’s criminal history. Debra Davey, Preston’s grandmother, emphasized that the focus should be on seeking justice for Preston, not on Sarah’s past actions.
Debra reminisced about the joy of Preston’s birth and the initial plans for her to care for him, which were disrupted by her cancer diagnosis. The heartbreak of losing Preston to Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley’s care was compounded by the subsequent events leading to Preston’s death. Debra expressed her anguish over the slow progress of justice and her disbelief at the atrocities committed against Preston.
The parole board’s decision to release Preston’s mother, despite repeated breaches of her initial murder conviction conditions, raised concerns about the justice system’s handling of such cases. The Oldham Council acknowledged the tragedy of Preston’s death and assured that an independent review of child safeguarding practices was underway to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Crown Prosecution Service condemned Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley’s actions, calling it a shocking and appalling case of child abuse. The prosecution emphasized the betrayal of trust in caring for Preston and the unimaginable harm inflicted on the innocent child. The focus remains on seeking justice for Preston and ensuring accountability for those responsible for the heinous acts.