Oldham baby murder trial: Teacher 'had dark thoughts' about abused child

A former Oldham teacher accused of murdering his adopted baby boy told a colleague he had 'dark thoughts' about drowning or suffocating the child, a court has heard. Jamie Varley, 37, who worked as a head of year at a Blackpool high school, allegedly confided in a work friend that he was struggling to bond with 13-month-old Preston Davey and had harmful thoughts towards him.

The court heard that Varley had renamed the child Elijah during the adoption process and told the colleague he had disclosed these thoughts during welfare checks with his employer and social workers. The colleague only approached police with this information after Preston's death in July 2023.

Preston, who was originally taken into care by Oldham Council as a newborn in June 2022, suffered 40 traumatic injuries during the four months he lived with Varley and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley. The child was placed with the defendants for adoption in April 2023 and died on July 27th after suffering acute upper airways obstruction.

Prosecutors allege Varley recorded a video of the dying child but remained silent and didn't seek help, while both men deny multiple charges including murder, sexual assault, and making indecent images of a child. The trial at Preston Crown Court is expected to last up to six weeks.