The biological father of murdered 13-month-old Preston Davey has spoken of his heartbreak and anger, describing how his son endured months of abuse at the hands of the men who adopted him. Gary Nolan addressed mourners at a candlelit vigil held in Preston on what would have been the little boy’s fourth birthday.

Preston Davey died in July 2023 after suffering 40 traumatic injuries while in the care of his adoptive father, Jamie Varley, a 37-year-old teacher from Blackpool, and Varley’s partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32. Both men were convicted following a trial. Varley was found guilty of murder, while McGowan-Fazakerley was convicted of Sєxual ᴀssault, child cruelty, and allowing the death of a child. They are due to be sentenced this Thursday.

Speaking at the vigil in Preston’s Flag Market, Gary Nolan told BBC North West Tonight of the pain of knowing his son had suffered. “My son went through four months of terror at the hands of a monster,” he said. “My son should be alive today on his birthday and not ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.”

The vigil was organised to remember Preston and celebrate the “beautiful little boy he was.” Organiser Niamh Cardwell-Clarke asked people to bring candles, teddies, and bubbles to focus on Preston’s life rather than the horrific circumstances of his death. A piper played the bagpipes, candles were lit, and a minute’s silence was held in his memory.

Preston was born in June 2022 and taken into care by Oldham Council shortly after birth. His mother, Sarah Davey, had a troubled past, having been jailed at the age of 14 for the murder of a frail pensioner in 1998. Preston spent his first 10 months with foster parents before being placed with Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley in April 2023 following their approval for adoption.

In the short time he lived with the couple in Blackpool, Preston was subjected to repeated physical abuse and Sєxual ᴀssault. He was taken to hospital three times in the months before his death on 27 July 2023. The trial heard harrowing details of the injuries he sustained during those final months.

Family, friends, and members of the public gathered at the vigil to pay their respects. Many lit candles at home and shared pH๏τos online in memory of Preston. The event was described as a chance to remember him as a child who deserved love and protection, rather than focusing solely on the cruelty he endured.

Gary Nolan’s emotional words reflected the deep pain felt by Preston’s biological family. He spoke of the anger and grief that remains years after his son’s death, emphasising that Preston should have been celebrating his fourth birthday surrounded by love.

The case has shocked many across the North West, not only because of the extreme abuse Preston suffered but also because it involved two men who had been approved to adopt a vulnerable child. Questions have been raised about the adoption process and how warning signs were missed during the short time Preston was in their care.

As the community came together to remember Preston, many expressed hope that justice will be fully served when Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley are sentenced later this week. For Gary Nolan and Preston’s wider family, however, no sentence can undo the loss of the little boy who should have been turning four.

The vigil served as both a tribute and a reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable children. While Preston’s life was tragically cut short, those who gathered in Preston made it clear that he will not be forgotten. His memory continues to live on through the love of those who remember him as the beautiful child he was.