The Trial

In this episode Jamie Varley tells his story. As the defence case gets underway Jamie Varley entered the witness box to deny abusing or killing Preston Davey. He said he was the safest person in the world for Preston and being a teacher and a daddy was all he ever wanted. He also denied keeping pictures on his phone which were “trophies” of Preston being sexually abused. But he said he accepted looking back that some of the footage was inappropriate.

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
The 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 Voucher
Amazon 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.com
Follow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrime
Email us [email protected]
WhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)


Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull
Actors: Sarah Gee, Oliver Sykes, Benny Fiddimore
Editor: Chelsey Ranore
Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham
Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
The Trial series uses actors and some voices generated by AI. Their words are taken as verbatim from the official court transcript.

Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter.
It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world.

A Daily Mail production.
Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this extra episode Caroline and Liz have the moment Jamie Varley is faced with the extent of the allegations against him - and his reaction to them. He tells detective they are wrong that he sexually abused and murdered his adopted 13-month-old son, Preston Davey, and he will fight the allegations until the day he dies.

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, inclusive
The 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 Voucher
Amazon 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.com
Follow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrime
Email us [email protected]
WhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)


Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull
Editor: Chelsey Ranore
Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham
Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.

The Trial series uses actors and some voices generated by AI. Their words are taken as verbatim from the official court transcript.

Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter.
It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world.

A Daily Mail production.
Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Caroline and Liz have the evidence from a doctor who said in some of the videos on Jamie Varley’s phone, Preston Davey was in life threatening situations. Dr Jo Gifford, an expert in child sex abuse, said Preston showed signs of being mistreated and abused, and there was footage of him before he died which showed several “near misses.”
We also have the evidence from Preston’s foster mum Sandra Cooper who came into court to refute Jamie Varley’s suggestion that the reason Preston was pictured and filmed naked was because she had advised he should be allowed “free willy time.” She said it was categorically untrue and she would view it as a big safeguarding issue.

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, inclusive
The 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 Voucher
Amazon 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.com
Follow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrime
Email us [email protected]
WhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)


Presenter: Caroline Cheetham and Liz Hull
Actors: Sarah Gee, Oliver Sykes, Benny Fiddimore
Editor: Chelsey Ranore
Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham
Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.

The Trial series uses actors and some voices generated by AI. Their words are taken as verbatim from the official court transcript.

Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter.
It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world.

A Daily Mail production.
Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Caroline and Liz have the medical evidence which the jury were told were consistent with Preston Davey being bitten and sexually assaulted before he died. A pathologist with 40 years experience said she found evidence that he could have been smothered or he may have died from having something forced into his mouth. She also said he suffered bruises which were not accidental. Preston was 13 months old when he died within four months of being in the care of Jamie Varley and John McGowan Fazakerley who were in the process of adopting him. The prosecution say he was abused and murdered.

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, inclusive
The 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 Voucher
Amazon 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.com
Follow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrime
Email us [email protected]
WhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)


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.
The Trial series uses actors and some voices generated by AI. Their words are taken as verbatim from the official court transcript.

Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter.
It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world.

A Daily Mail production.
Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 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 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, inclusive
The 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 Voucher
Amazon 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.com
Follow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrime
Email us [email protected]
WhatsApp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)


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.
The Trial series uses actors and some voices generated by AI. Their words are taken as verbatim from the official court transcript.

Click here to sign up to The Crime Desk's weekly newsletter.
It's free and packed with exclusive interviews, expert insight, and gripping deep dive investigations from across the world.

A Daily Mail production.
Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.