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The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: The Phone Footage
Season 17, Ep. 2
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In this episode Caroline and Liz have the latest in the case of Preston Davey - a baby the prosecution say was abused and murdered after he was adopted by two men - Jamie Varley and John McGowan Fazakerly. Today we’ve got evidence of the videos and pictures from Jamie Varley’s mobile phone. In many of them Preston is naked and in some Jamie Varley appears to be naked too. The prosecution say the jury will have to decide if they are cruel and indecent. We’ve also got the evidence from Jamie Varley’s colleagues who say he gave different accounts of how Preston broke his arm in the weeks before he died. And we hear that at one point the hospital did report some of Preston’s injuries to the police but no investigation was launched.
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- Enter between 00:01 BST on 23rd April 2026 and 23:59 BST on 23rd May 2026, inclusive
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Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull
Producer: Chelsey Ranore
Editor: Chelsey Ranore
Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham
Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini
A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
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5. The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “That’s Bullsh*t”
20:50||Season 17, Ep. 5In this episode Caroline and Liz have the moment Jamie Varley was accused of the murder and sexual abuse of the baby he adopted - and he told police he would fight them to prove his innocence. In video footage shown in court he said he didn't believe Preston Davey, who was just 13 months old when he died, had injuries all over his body, and he said accusations of sexual assault were bullshit. He also said naked and explicit pictures of Preston on his phone were innocent and the police were "making a mountain out of a molehill."Help shape the Crime Desk by taking our quick, listener survey. It takes just five minutes, and you could win a £50 Amazon voucher.Terms and conditionsOpen to UK residents aged 18 or over.Enter between 00:01 BST on 23rd April 2026 and 23:59 BST on 23rd May 2026, inclusiveThe Promotion is free to enter by visiting, completing the online survey and providing your contact details (including email address).There will be one (1) winner.The winner will win £50 Amazon VoucherAmazon Vouchers are subject to Amazon’s T&Cs found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Full T&Cs apply, click here to read them.Subscribe via thecrimedesk.comFollow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrimeEmail us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz HullProducer: Chelsey RanoreEditor: Chelsey RanoreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
4. The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “Was it you?”
34:01||Season 17, Ep. 4In this episode we have the words of Jamie Varley as he denied abusing and murdering the baby boy he adopted. In a series of police interviews we’re bringing you today he says photos and videos the prosecution say are cruel or indecent were “totally innocent.” He also denied having any sexual interest in Preston and he said he did not kill him. But the jury also heard evidence that Preston had 45 bruises on his body, and he did not die from drowning in a bath, as Jamie Varley claimed.Help shape the Crime Desk by taking our quick, listener survey. It takes just five minutes, and you could win a £50 Amazon voucher.Terms and conditionsOpen to UK residents aged 18 or over.Enter between 00:01 BST on 23rd April 2026 and 23:59 BST on 23rd May 2026, inclusiveThe Promotion is free to enter by visiting, completing the online survey and providing your contact details (including email address).There will be one (1) winner.The winner will win £50 Amazon VoucherAmazon Vouchers are subject to Amazon’s T&Cs found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Full T&Cs apply, click here to read them.Subscribe via thecrimedesk.comFollow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrimeEmail us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Richard MarsdenActor: Sarah GeeProducer: Chelsey RanoreEditor: Chelsey RanoreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
3. Update Episode - The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: "It's my Fault"
14:51||Season 17, Ep. 3In this update episode Caroline and Liz have the moment 13-month-old Preston Davey was brought into A&E in the minutes before he died. CCTV footage was shown in court of Jamie Varley and John McGowan Fazakerley running into the hospital in Blackpool carrying the baby and the jury was told Jamie Varley repeatedly said: "It's my fault." He told doctors he'd left Preston in the bath alone for a few minutes and he'd started drowning. But the prosecution say he deliberately murdered him, after weeks of abuse. The men deny the charges.Help shape the Crime Desk by taking our quick, listener survey. It takes just five minutes, and you could win a £50 Amazon voucher.Terms and conditions Open to UK residents aged 18 or over.Enter between 00:01 BST on 23rd April 2026 and 23:59 BST on 23rd May 2026, inclusiveThe Promotion is free to enter by visiting, completing the online survey and providing your contact details (including email address).There will be one (1) winner.The winner will win £50 Amazon VoucherAmazon Vouchers are subject to Amazon’s T&Cs found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Full T&Cs apply, click here to read them.Subscribe via thecrimedesk.comFollow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrimeEmail us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz HullProducer: Chelsey RanoreEditor: Chelsey RanoreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
18. Driven to Death? - Domestic Abuse: "A National Emergency"
40:49||Season 16, Ep. 18In this episode the scale of domestic violence is exposed as Caroline sits down with Louisa Rolfe, the Assistant Chief Constable of the Met Police. New figures released today show teenage girls are increasingly being abused by partners and the numbers of women who take their lives due to domestic abuse now far exceeds those who are killed by a violent partner. Jess Philips, the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls today said the figures demonstrate a "National Emergency". We also have an interview with Chris Trybus, who was last week cleared of the manslaughter, rape and coercive control of his wife.Help shape the Crime Desk by taking our quick, listener survey. It takes just five minutes, and you could win a £50 Amazon voucher.Terms and conditions Open to UK residents aged 18 or over.Enter between 00:01 BST on 23rd April 2026 and 23:59 BST on 23rd May 2026, inclusiveThe Promotion is free to enter by visiting, completing the online survey and providing your contact details (including email address).There will be one (1) winner.The winner will win £50 Amazon VoucherAmazon Vouchers are subject to Amazon’s T&Cs found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Full T&Cs apply, click here to read them.Subscribe via thecrimedesk.comFollow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrimeEmail us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline CheethamProducer: Chelsey RanoreEditor: Chelsey Ranore and Sam MorrisCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
17. Driven to Death? - The Broader Questions
43:57||Season 16, Ep. 17n this episode Caroline, Nick and Liz have the latest on the trial of the men accused of abusing Preston Davey - and why it's been delayed. We've also got a chat about jury trials and why there are more voices calling for David Lammy not to scrap them, and after the acquittal of Chris Trybus this week for manslaughter, coercive control and rape, we've got an interview about the broader issues around domestic violence, but unconnected with those charges of which Chris Trybus was acquitted.Help shape the Crime Desk by taking our quick, listener survey. It takes just five minutes, and you could win a £50 Amazon voucher.Terms and conditions Open to UK residents aged 18 or over.Enter between 00:01 BST on 23rd April 2026 and 23:59 BST on 23rd May 2026, inclusiveThe Promotion is free to enter by visiting, completing the online survey and providing your contact details (including email address).There will be one (1) winner.The winner will win £50 Amazon VoucherAmazon Vouchers are subject to Amazon’s T&Cs found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Full T&Cs apply, click here to read them.Subscribe via thecrimedesk.comFollow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrimeEmail us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham, Liz Hull and Nick FaggeProducer: Chelsey RanoreEditor: Chelsey RanoreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
16. Driven to Death? - Cleared
35:57||Season 16, Ep. 16In this episode Caroline and Nick have all the details from court as Chris Trybus was dramatically cleared of killing his wife. The jury took over 40 hours to deliberate, but they decided he did not rape or coercively control Tarryn Baird and he was not responsible for her suicide.Subscribe via thecrimedesk.comFollow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrimeEmail us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Nick FaggeProducer: Chelsey RanoreEditor: Chelsey RanoreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniLove the Crime Desk podcast? Help shape what comes next by taking our quick, listener survey. It takes just five minutes, and you could win a £50 Amazon voucher.Terms and conditions Open to UK residents aged 18 or over.Enter between 00:01 BST on 23rd April 2026 and 23:59 BST on 23rd May 2026, inclusiveThe Promotion is free to enter by visting, completing the online survey and providing your contact details (including email address).There will be one (1) winner.The winner will win £50 Amazon VoucherAmazon Vouchers are subject to Amazon’s T&Cs found here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/.Full T&Cs apply, click here to read them.A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
1. The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: A “Sinister Tragedy”
29:22||Season 17, Ep. 1In this episode Caroline and Liz have the start of a brand new trial and a new series. The tragic death of a baby boy called Preston Davey is at the centre of this trial. Did the two men who adopted him abuse him? And did one of those men murder him? Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley deny harming Preston and in this opening episode we have the details of what they’ve been accused of.Subscribe via thecrimedesk.comFollow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrimeEmail us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz HullActor: Ollie SykesEditor: Chelsey RanoreProducer: Chelsey RanoreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
NEW TRIAL: The Tragic Life of Preston Davey
01:06||Season 17, Ep. 0Caroline and Liz are back with a new trial and a new series of the podcast about the tragic life - and death - of a baby boy. Preston Davey died aged 13 months old, allegedly at the hands one of the men who adopted him. It's alleged Jamie Varley, a high school teacher, murdered Preston and that he and his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, abused him.Subscribe via thecrimedesk.comFollow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrimeEmail us thetrial@dailymail.comWhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’) Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz HullProducer: Chelsey RanoreEditor: Chelsey RanoreCreative Director: Caroline CheethamProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.