Preston Davey murderer Jamie Varley back in court

A teacher who sexually abused and murdered the 13-month-old baby boy he adopted with his partner has been back in court.

Jamie Varley, 37, was told he will spend the rest of his life in prison last month over the death of Preston Davey who suffered "unremitting abuse" at the hands of the former high school head of year.

Varley, from Blackpool, appeared at Preston Crown Court via videolink from HMP Wakefield, and spoke only to confirm his identity.

He appeared for a brief, two-minute hearing under the "slip rule" which allows judges to correct legal errors or rectify accidental mistakes.

After being found guilty of murder and 24 other offences, when he was sentenced last month he had not been sentenced in error for one count of sexual assault.

Mr Justice Turner, also appearing via videolink along with other lawyers involved in the trial, sentenced Varley to seven years in jail on count 12, the sexual assault of the child, to run concurrent with his other sentences.

It will have no practical effect as Varley was given a whole life term and told he will never be released from jail by the same judge when he passed sentence on 18 June.

Varley's partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, also appeared by videolink from HMP Preston at the hearing.

He was jailed for 25 years for allowing Varley's treatment of the child and taking part in the sexual abuse.

Detectives said the couple's crimes had "shocked the nation" and described Varley as "evil" and a "sadist".

Preston had been treated as a "plaything", with the child routinely sexually assaulted and physically abused after the couple adopted him aged nine months, before his murder four months later at their Blackpool home in July 2023, the trial heard.

A social services investigation is under way.

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