Jamie Varley, who sexually, physically and psychologically abused his adopted son Preston Davey before murdering him, has reportedly been labelled a flight risk after prison officers allegedly feared he was planning an escape from jail. An inside source claimed to The Sun that the killer may have either attempted to evade capture, or made a comment about trying to do so in the future - something that prison officers take extremely seriously even if the inmate seemed to be joking.
Escape Plot and Flight Risk Status
The source revealed: “It has been done either because he has tried to escape or they have heard him talking about it. It is quite likely he did something like try to slip his handcuffs on the way back from court. But if prison officers hear inmates talking about how they would like to escape, or how they think they could, they will be marked down as a risk. They have to take it seriously and report it and then the person reported has a lot more scrutiny on them.”
Reports claim that because he has allegedly been marked as a flight risk, Varley will be forced to dress in a green and yellow jumpsuit, known as patches, that is given to high risk inmates. According to the source, wearing the high visibility uniform can mark you out as a target to other prisoners. They explained: "The worst thing is wearing patches as it marks you out and you are under the spotlight."
Increased Restrictions and Target Status
The source also claimed that Varley will likely face even more restrictions over his movement while behind bars due to his flight risk status, including not being allowed to use certain facilities. They said: “It means the inmate is checked on regularly and isn’t allowed into communal and outside areas. They are often escorted wherever they go if there is deemed to be a danger. And they can also be blocked from gyms or association in the evenings and at weekends when there are less staff on duty to keep tabs on them.”
Varley, who received a rare whole life order for his sick crimes meaning he will never be released from prison, is currently inside a Category B HMP Preston in Lancashire. Reports suggest that the killer is to be moved to a higher security prison - with jail insiders already having warned he will be a 'target' with lags queuing up to take him out.
The Crime and Sentencing
Varley's victim Preston Davey died in July 2023 after enduring months of physical, sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of Jamie Varley, 37, during the final four months of his life. Varley, of Blackpool, initially told police that Preston had accidentally drowned in a bath. However, a post-mortem examination revealed the child had suffered 40 separate injuries. His partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was convicted of sexual assault, child cruelty and allowing the death of a child and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
