An Oldham Council social worker visited the home of a toddler just weeks before his death and reported seeing "no concerns", Preston Crown Court has heard. The case involves Preston Davey, a two-year-old who died on 27 July 2023 after being taken to hospital in cardiac arrest.

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be acute upper airway obstruction. The prosecution alleges this was the result of smothering or an object placed in the mouth. The court heard that Preston had been admitted to hospital on several occasions before his death with symptoms including breathing difficulties, seizures, and an arm injury.

The social worker from Oldham Council visited Preston's home in early July 2023, following his third hospital admission. Notes from the visit recorded that the child appeared settled with both carers and that no issues were identified at the time. However, during the home visit, the court heard that Preston appeared pale and "not himself", with attempts to smile followed by distress.

A separate independent reviewer who visited the following day recorded that Preston seemed happy and noted she had considered whether there was a problem but decided there was not. This inconsistency in observations is part of the evidence being presented to the jury.

Social workers from Oldham Council were overseeing the adoption process for Preston. This included supervising foster care arrangements, assessing the prospective adopters, and managing his transition earlier in 2023. He had been placed with foster carers under Oldham Council's supervision before moving to live with Jamie Varley, 37, and John McGowan Fazackerley, 32, in April 2023 as part of an adoption process.

Jurors were also told that in the weeks after the placement, Varley sent messages in which he referred to Preston as "dead meat" following a night of disrupted sleep. In another message, he said the child had been "murdered" before being put to bed. The prosecution relies on these comments as part of its case, suggesting they showed a disregard for the child's well-being.

The court heard evidence that the defendants reported struggling with Preston's sleep, with messages describing him as "crying all the time" and the situation as a "nightmare". The prosecution case states that Preston sustained multiple injuries while in the care of the defendants.

Varley denies murder along with further charges including sexual offences and child cruelty. McGowan Fazackerley denies causing or allowing the death of a child and other charges including neglect and sexual assault.

The trial continues at Preston Crown Court and is expected to last several weeks. The jury has been told the evidence will be distressing. This case has drawn attention to the role of Oldham Council's social services in child protection and adoption processes.