Oldham social worker 'had no concerns' before baby's death

A social worker who visited Preston Davey in the months before his death told a court she had 'no concerns' about the 13-month-old, despite him being taken to hospital three times in just a few weeks. Amy Shepherdson, who worked for Oldham Council, said she saw nothing to worry her during home visits, even after Preston suffered a fractured elbow that his adoptive father Jamie Varley claimed happened accidentally while settling the child back into his cot.

Preston died on July 27, 2023, after being rushed to hospital unconscious and in cardiac arrest. Varley, a former head of year at a Blackpool high school, told police the child had drowned in the bath. But a post-mortem examination revealed multiple non-accidental injuries and found the cause of death to be acute upper airways obstruction.

The court heard Preston had suffered 40 traumatic injuries while living with Varley and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley at their home on Staining Road, Blackpool. Varley faces 26 charges including murder, sexual assault, and taking indecent images of the child. McGowan-Fazakerley denies allowing the child's death and other abuse charges.

Preston's foster mother Sandra Cooper, who cared for him for the first 10 months of his life, described him as a 'happy, lovable baby' who laughed and smiled early. She told the court she became worried when she struggled to arrange follow-up visits after the adoption, saying 'I felt like they were hiding him from me.' The trial continues at Preston Crown Court.