Preston Davey review ‘should include second murdered baby’

During Hardcastle’s sentencing hearing at Preston Crown Court, a judge described how the boy, who died of a brain injury, was found to be “covered in injuries, top to toe and front to back” including an adult bite mark.

Hardcastle, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years in July 2024, had only recently been granted sole custody of his son.

In Damion’s case, a safeguarding practice review in November found that medics spotted a bruise on the toddler’s head but did not ask his father what had caused it, the Blackpool Lead reported, external.

The review, by Blackpool Safeguarding Children Partnership, said this did not fulfill the “expected practice”.

In Preston’s case Varley had convinced medics bruising on the youngster was accidental by showing them a video on his phone.

However, it was later revealed the video was recorded 12 days earlier and could not explain any fresh bruising.

Varley was convicted of murder and a raft of other charges including rape and hit with a whole life prison term last week – while his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley – was jailed for 25 years for allowing the death of a child and sexual offences.