Preston Davey Trial

[SamPam]

And this was a nurse - can anyone tell me if this truly is a common injury as I rarely hear of it happening. Don’t see many 13 month old in arm casts either but maybe that’s just me

I've never seen a baby in a cast in 46 years, or know anyone whose baby has had a fractured arm. I'm honestly amazed a non-walking baby presenting with an arm injury like that wouldn't be investigated further, social services involvement or not.

 

[maytoseptember]

One thing that strikes me listening to the early part of The Trial podcast is that this had all the hallmarks of a quite predictable case. Man struggles to adapt to life with an adopted baby. Seems depressed. Alludes to having thoughts of harming the baby, and so on. Numerous visits to A&E with injuries that may or may not have been non-accidental. Preston’s murder could have quite easily echoed the murders of Elsie Scully-Hicks and Leiland-James Corkill were it not for the sexual abuse element.

It’s just impossible to fathom how one man’s contempt for this baby who (to his mind) destroyed his comfortable life could turn into sexual abuse. I mean it’s possible that Varley entered into the adoption process with that aim, but what if he didn’t? Did JV’s growing dislike and resentment of Preston morph into wanting to sexually abuse him, as some sort of sick and depraved punishment? I’m interested to know what the prosecution come up with, especially in terms of how JFM is implicated as well.

 

[Emsie]

Hearts emoji was Preston's SW employed by Oldham Council. You have to wonder what on earth she was thinking and I suspect more will come out in the case review. My perception is that although he was a Looked After Child she didn't think that his adoptive parents could possibly harm him so paid less/no attention to the red flags if he has been with his birth family and on a child protection or child on need plan. My worry is that she was thinking about JV and JF and having a nice relationship with them rather than putting Preston's needs first and thinking about all the little bits of information she should have been putting together. Anyone who does child safeguarding training is trained that it's all the little bits of information that you need to put together and consider. Refusing to have a sensible time to do the meetings with the foster carers, repeat visits to hospital plus all the other bits of info she will have had *should* have made her think. She knew he was a well baby when he went to them and then he's having repeated health issues. It's absolutely drilled into you that bruises and broken bones in non walking baby are huge red flags. Certain areas for bruising and injuries too as they are not normal places for bruising.

A colleague of mine years ago told me that he and his wife had been referred to social services when their baby had a broken arm at about 8 months old. She'd been on the bed and then crawled or rolled to the edge and fell. Either Mike or his wife grabbed the baby as she fell but it resulted in a twisting break which is almost always a non accidental injury. They went to hospital etc and it was flagged up and social services opened a case.
The case was soon closed as their stories matched up and they were able to explain what had happened and there were no other factors for concern, no other bruising or old injuries. But nobody was like "ah yeah Mike is a good fella who works for the council and he's saying the right things so it's probably gonna be fine".

God this is even more hideous. I was prepared to accept heart emojis if it was their social worker - you know you've worked together for a long time, really delved into their personalities and histories and I can see how the lines might get a bit blurred and the professionalism drops.
But the fact she was Preston's SW she shouldn't be interested in their well being or offering them comfort. They have their own social worker and support network for that. Her concern should have been Preston alone.

 

[Nelly's mum]

Varley must have told so many lies to get approved. Makes me think no amount of checks can stop predatory monsters accessing vulnerable children, because they will always find a way. But monitoring during the adoption process needs to be and could be much more robust. And multiple hospital visits in such a short space of time absolutely needs to be seen as the red flag it obviously is.

Imo, Varley must have had a sexual interest in babies/children, I don't understand how you can go from a point of no pweirdo tendencies to sexually abusing a baby in just 4months. If this is correct then presumably he had previously accessed csa images, if this is the case I guess it would come out in the trial.

The obvious conclusion is that anyone adopting/fostering/working with children should have their phones and laptops checked, but this is unrealistic and would never happen, also parents don't face this scrutiny.

I'm just thinking out loud really - I don't know how pdfs can be prevented from accessing children, as they obviously lie and conceal that they are a pweirdo, especially the likes of Safeguarding Lead and head of year JV

 

[PaddyDomino]

Seems he had a lot of contempt towards the foster mum in particular blaming her for “spoiling” Preston.

I remember the social worker saying, with regard to JV and JMF meeting the foster parents, that it was bringing together people who would not normally meet.
And I wondered what that meant and if it meant that there was an element of snobbery, in that JV and JMF were quite middle class and possibly looking down their noses on the foster parents (if they were working class, I don't even know if they were).
I do think that they used the name Elijah because Preston just didn't fit their aesthetic, so to speak, and possibly they looked down on Preston's mother and the rest of his biological family.

 

[Itchy of Itchington]

Was the heart emoji social worker Preston's or theirs? Usually, you'd have visits from both. Your own social worker who got you through the process will be checking up on you making sure you're ok and Preston's social worker should be checking on him. My son's would go and see him if he was asleep, and plan to be around at lunchtime etc so she could see him being fed and cared for.
I feel like they are missing a social worker somewhere?

Hearts emoji was Preston's SW employed by Oldham Council. You have to wonder what on earth she was thinking and I suspect more will come out in the case review. My perception is that although he was a Looked After Child she didn't think that his adoptive parents could possibly harm him so paid less/no attention to the red flags if he has been with his birth family and on a child protection or child on need plan. My worry is that she was thinking about JV and JF and having a nice relationship with them rather than putting Preston's needs first and thinking about all the little bits of information she should have been putting together. Anyone who does child safeguarding training is trained that it's all the little bits of information that you need to put together and consider. Refusing to have a sensible time to do the meetings with the foster carers, repeat visits to hospital plus all the other bits of info she will have had *should* have made her think. She knew he was a well baby when he went to them and then he's having repeated health issues. It's absolutely drilled into you that bruises and broken bones in non walking baby are huge red flags. Certain areas for bruising and injuries too as they are not normal places for bruising.

A colleague of mine years ago told me that he and his wife had been referred to social services when their baby had a broken arm at about 8 months old. She'd been on the bed and then crawled or rolled to the edge and fell. Either Mike or his wife grabbed the baby as she fell but it resulted in a twisting break which is almost always a non accidental injury. They went to hospital etc and it was flagged up and social services opened a case.
The case was soon closed as their stories matched up and they were able to explain what had happened and there were no other factors for concern, no other bruising or old injuries. But nobody was like "ah yeah Mike is a good fella who works for the council and he's saying the right things so it's probably gonna be fine".

 

[Lyla001]

Aside from being a vile sexual deviant, JV sounds like a spoilt brat who would have a hissy fit if he couldn't get his own way / struggling to cope. And when the mask slipped, I feel poor Preston took the brunt of this catastrophicly

 

[IGiveUp22]

I really don’t think I could ever be a barrister. It used to be a job I wanted but I couldn’t defend someone like these two. And it must be so hard to put aside your personal feelings - BNE (iykyk) prosecuted Letby but now is having to defend this monster. I just don’t know how they do it but someone has to don’t they!

 

[SamPam]

Is all this no no no malarkey an act to make them feel sorry for him.... as most child abusers show no remorse! To be fair if my 1 year old died I would also be hysterical and probably acting the same way... I dont know why the doctors would comment on the fact he was overly dramatic? Unless they could tell it was very put on?

He's coming across as pretty dramatic in the transcripts to be fair. The medical staff will sadly be used to grieving relatives reactions to being told a patient has died, and he must have presented as being more on the dramatic side, plus the fact one member of staff noted there were no tears.
Possibly "doing too much", the killer of Star Hobson was noted as being performative at the hospital.

 

[ClaraPlum]

The pelvic organ injuries

That poor jury!

I keep thinking this is all too much, but we have to remember that poor Preston had to endure all of this. The least we can do is listen and acknowledge that this happened to him. He deserves that at the very least, not to be ignored because it upsets us

 

[Pulltheotherone]

I hate the pair of them.

 

[Mycatismad]

That pacing looks like panic at being caught out, not sadness at poor little Preston losing his precious life.

That’s exactly what I thought, he’s not upset- he’s terrified for himself as he knows there’s going to be an investigation now. Vile creature

 

[Tanley]

Varley was a teacher and also designated safeguarding lead. He would have done a lot of training in those roles. It’s clear that he knew how to present himself as a middle class professional with a good understanding of children’s needs.
I do wonder if he was rushed through the adoption process due to the above?
When my friend adopted her son she was put through so many hoops: parenting courses, social worker assessments, etc. (as it should be) It was a two year process before her and her husband were approved to adopt. And then a very gradual transition from the foster family when they were matched with a one year old baby, much slower than Preston who seems to have moved in with Varley after a couple of sleepovers

 

[Tofino]

I don’t understand this at all. Apart from it being cruel and neglectful. Why was he filming him? A 14 minute video is a huge length of time.

He also contradicts himself - wants to see how Preston was in his own company but then says Preston could see him.

 

[Padparadascha]

How DO you go from normal gay guy to prolific abuser of a baby in so little time unless you had those proclivities already there.
I believe that proof will come out that they had these fantasies for a long time.

But, my question is, if he was such a shit actor at the hospital where it was transparent he was faking, how was it he fooled those during the adoption process?

 

[Ghostranch]

JV describing Preston as “very needy” makes my blood boil! No compassion whatever. It boggles my mind given his profession. He should have a really good understanding of trauma and adverse childhood experiences. Infant mental health is to be taken seriously. The first 1000 days from conception to 2 years can have a life-long effect on a child’s health and wellbeing. Even a baby who’s not had the challenges Preston experienced can be “needy”. I have no idea how JV passed an assessment to adopt. He must have modified his responses.

Baby’s can experience poor mental health. In my authority there is a specialist team. Sleeping and feeding issues can be an indicator

Absolutely. How can a baby not be needy? What was he expecting?

Varley must have told so many lies to get approved. Makes me think no amount of checks can stop predatory monsters accessing vulnerable children, because they will always find a way. But monitoring during the adoption process needs to be and could be much more robust. And multiple hospital visits in such a short space of time absolutely needs to be seen as the red flag it obviously is.

 

[upyernelly]

Thank you - this is especially significant that you, "in the trade" so to speak, have stated this. It's obvious, but so many people feel that because there are written safeguards they are always adhered to. To me the fact that she texted/e-mailed heart emojis tells the world that she wasn't acting in a professional manner.

I agree. Our managers run a tight ship and we’re audited regularly. Different areas have different budgets - and different managers iyswim.
I do think it is very difficult for sw who work in areas where there is great deprevation and low funding and poor management. There is a fear that whistleblowers could lose their jobs etc. I have colleagues who are the main breadwinners and wear dressing gowns on the house because they can’t afford to put the heating on. Lots of women who work these jobs keep their heads down and try their best to work in a system that is seriously flawed under great pressure.

 

[VeniVidiVicki]

They cancelled repeated meetings with Preston’s foster mother who is a very experienced carer. She contacted his social worker but his social worker didn’t do anything. Neither did she have any concerns about Preston’s repeated hospital admissions

Adoptive parents 'hid abused baby from foster mum', jury told

Sandra Cooper looked after Preston Davey from after his birth until he was adopted at 10 months.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[scantysandwich]

I came to say the same thing, she is the hysterical Varley‘s mother. She is speaking the truth, he wouldn’t have died on her watch, only a few hours earlier he was bouncing happily on her knee. I hope she takes the stand.

If she bathed him on that day as has been reported she would have seen some of the 30 external bruises on that poor boy. She must have noticed them…

 

[Cinnabun]

No wonder he asked his friend to hide the sex toys. Bastard.

I think he has definitely vastly overestimated his own intelligence as he has been able to fool some people. I hope his arrogance will assist his downfall.