Sandra Cooper and her husband had fostered Preston from after his birth until he was 10 months old. In April 2023, Preston went to live with high school teacher Jamie Varley, 37, and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32. Cooper, who has fostered 43 children over 27 years, said there was a gradual familiarisation with the adoptive parents before finally giving Preston up for adoption and the child moving into the defendants' home on 3 April 2023. Preston was taken into care at five days old after he was born in June 2022.
Cooper told the jury she was 'worried' and felt the men were 'hiding' Preston from her when she tried to visit. Afterwards, planned visits by Cooper to see the child had been made difficult by the defendants, she claimed. Cooper told the jury she had difficulty getting access to see Preston and made a complaint to a social worker.
I had spoken to the hospital ward's sister about the fracture and had been told there were no safeguarding worries.
Varley is accused of killing and abusing Preston, and McGowan-Fazakerley is accused of allowing his death and assaulting him. In just under the next four months after his adoption at the defendants' home in Blackpool, the prosecution allege that Preston was routinely ill-treated, had indecent images and videos taken of him, was sexually abused and physically assaulted, suffering 40 traumatic injuries. He died in hospital on 27 July 2023 having suffered a collapse and cardiac arrest allegedly following a sexual assault by Varley. Both men deny all the charges.
Amy Shepherdson, who was Preston's social worker with Oldham Borough Council, had been part of a team to find prospective adoptive parents and had made home visits after the adoption. Preston was taken to hospital three times in just under four months that he was with the defendants before his death. He had been diagnosed with a chest infection, before being taken to hospital with a fever, and then a fracture to his left elbow on 10 July. Shepherdson had visited the home after the second hospital visit and again after the fracture. She said she had spoken to the hospital ward's sister about the fracture and had been told there were no safeguarding worries. She visited Preston's home but did not have any concerns, she said.
I visited Preston's home but did not have any concerns.
Shepherdson told the court that she next heard from the couple on 27 July 2023 when she was told Preston had died. The baby boy had been taken into hospital unconscious.