Source: Crown Prosecution Service published on this website Tuesday 16 June 2026

A former teacher has been found guilty of sexually abusing and murdering a baby boy that he planned to adopt.

Jamie Varley, 37, was convicted at Preston Crown Court of murder, child cruelty, sexual offences and indecent images relating to 13-month-old Preston Davey.

John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was convicted of allowing the death of a child, child cruelty and sexual assault.

Varley was in the process of adopting baby Preston (also known as Elijah) with his partner McGowan-Fazakerley. Just four months after being placed with the couple, Preston was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital unconscious and in cardiac arrest. Sadly, Preston could not be saved.

Varley tried falsely claiming that Preston had accidentally drowned in a bath, but prosecutors were able to prove that his injuries were consistent with his airways being obstructed.

The evidence presented by the prosecution proved that in the final months of Preston’s life, he was routinely ill-treated, sexually abused and physically assaulted – suffering more than 40 separate injuries.

Karen Tonge of the Crown Prosecution Service said:

“This has been one of the most shocking and horrific cases I have dealt with in my career. Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley had a responsibility to care for and protect baby Preston. They violated that responsibility and 13-month-old Preston was abused with sickening ease.

“It is difficult to comprehend how the very people who should have loved him could inflict such awful physical and sexual harm on an innocent child. No child should have to go through what Preston went through in the last four months of his short life and I cannot begin to imagine the toll this has taken on those that loved Preston. My thoughts remain with them all.”

Preston Davey was born on 16 June 2022; he was nine months old when he was placed with Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley with a view to his adoption.

Four months later, Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley took Preston to Blackpool Victoria Hospital around 6:30pm on 27 July 2023. He was unconscious and in cardiac arrest.

Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, Preston was pronounced dead just under an hour later.

A post-mortem concluded that the cause of Preston’s death was acute upper airway obstruction, meaning he had been smothered or something had been inserted into his mouth that had caused the obstruction.

Preston had been in the sole care of Varley that day until McGowan-Fazakerley returned from work and the couple took Preston to the hospital.

The evidence gathered showed that Preston suffered greatly at the hands of his primary carer, Varley, while McGowan-Fazakerley, who had been involved in the sexual assault of Preston, had failed to protect him from physical and psychological harm.

To charge and prosecute a case of murder, prosecutors had to prove that Varley had intended to kill or commit serious harm to baby Preston and that it was his actions that caused Preston’s death.

Although Varley claimed that he had not caused Preston any harm, experts confirmed that Preston’s condition could not have been caused by accidental drowning in the bath, as Varley claimed, or any other natural cause.

Preston had around 40 injuries, including bruising to his mouth, throat, bowel and bladder along with a healing fracture to his left arm which was deemed to be non-accidental. These injuries painted a heartbreaking picture of Preston’s time in the care of Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley.

To secure a guilty verdict for murder and the other charges faced by Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley, prosecutors built a compelling case including phone evidence showing instances of child cruelty.

Expert evidence proved that Varley had also taken indecent images and videos of Preston, which were stored on his phone.

Medical evidence showed that injuries to Preston’s body were consistent with sexual assault shortly before his tragic death and sometime in the weeks before his death.

Ultimately a wealth of evidence was presented to the jury who found Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley guilty of the crimes against baby Preston.

The pair will be sentenced at a later date at Preston Crown Court.

Source: The Charity Commission published on this website Friday 12 June 2026 by Jill Powell

The regulators are advising members of the public to follow this latest guidance so that people can fundraise in a way that protects themselves and the charity they are raising money for.

Each year, almost a third of sector income is raised from donations and legacies, including fundraising by the public.

The guide sets out practical steps for anyone thinking about setting up a fundraising appeal, including in response to an emergency. It is important that people follow the guidance because, when someone decides to raise money for charity they, not the charity, are responsible for ensuring the money goes where intended.

The steps include advising people to fundraise for a named charity from the outset, and to be transparent in all communications about what the money is being raised for, including the charity’s name and registered number.

While the Charity Commission and Fundraising Regulator already publish advice for members of the public to give safely when donating to good causes, this is the first time the regulators have published joint guidance for people looking to fundraise for charity.

The guidance recommends fundraisers:

• set a clear target and time limit for their appeal
• tell donors upfront about any expenses that will be deducted before funds are passed on to the charity
• use a reputable online fundraising platform over a personal bank account

Individuals can find a full list of steps in the guidance as well as advice on making contingency plans if circumstances change.

The regulators want members of the public to follow the guidance, explaining that taking care before setting up appeals can help them avoid problems later down the line. This includes unnecessary administrative steps (involving the regulators) or potential public criticism, for example that money isn’t reaching the end cause quickly enough. Taking care can help protect public trust and avoid the risk that an appeal is seen to be fraudulent.

David Holdsworth, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, said:

“The British public are some of the most generous people in the world, whether they’re donating time or money. We see some truly inspiring acts every day - from running marathons to running community-led memory cafes for people managing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

“When you’re fundraising for a cause you care about, it’s important to know your legal responsibilities. That’s why we’ve partnered with the Fundraising Regulator to create this guide — helping you raise money for your chosen charity in a way that’s legal, ethical, and effective.”

Gerald Oppenheim, CEO, at the Fundraising Regulator said:

“Fundraising by members of the public makes an invaluable contribution to the charity sector each year. Whether raising money through sponsored challenges, community events or emergency appeals, fundraisers have an important responsibility to ensure donations reach their intended cause.”

This guidance gives members of the public the practical information they need to follow the law, build trust with donors and avoid problems that could prevent charities from accessing funds quickly and effectively. We encourage anyone planning a fundraising appeal to read the guidance before they begin.

The full guide can be found on gov.uk.

Source: Ofcom published on this website Monday 15 June 2026 by Jill Powell

An Ofcom spokesperson said: “So far, Ofcom has driven some of the strongest changes of any online safety regulation in the world, from widespread age checks to grooming protections for children. But the industry needs to go much further to make people safe. The Government has entrusted us to build on this progress with new measures to protect children, and we're ready to work closely with them as the detailed regulations take shape.”

Ofcom has also today responded to correspondence from the Secretary of State which sets out priorities for action regarding implementation of the new measures. The reply from Ofcom’s Chief Executive, Dame Melanie Dawes, is available here.

Source: South Yorkshire Police published on this website Thursday 11 July 2026 by Jill Powell

Today (Thursday 11 June) a man has been handed a sentence of 32-years in prison after seven girls bravely testified about the horrific abuse they were subjected to.

Bawan Hawre was found guilty following a four-week long trial at Sheffield Crown Court, for a string of offences relating to child sexual exploitation. The jury reached their verdict on Tuesday (9 June) after only one day of deliberating.

During the trial the second defendant, Sharam Muhamadi, was also found guilty of multiple modern slavery offences.

The dedicated investigation was led by the multi-agency investigation team in Barnsley, BSAFE, with colleagues from SYP’s Barnsley Child Sexual Exploitation Team and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.

The investigation began in August 2024, after one victim courageously disclosed the abuse she has endured. Six more girls were then identified through extensive enquiries.

Hawre used the fake name 'Karo', with Muhamadi using 'Jack', in all communication with the girls, initially making contact with them through a social media messaging platform where they offered them e-cigarettes and vapes.

The two men then arranged to meet the girls in person, where the girls were transported from Barnsley to Doncaster.

The jury heard how the girls were given alcohol and drugs, after which six of the girls were raped by Hawre.

During the sentencing today, some of the victim's personal statements were read out, highlighting the effects the disgusting abuse has had, and will continue to have, on their lives.

During her sentencing remarks, Her Honour Judge Sarah Wright commented on the bravery of the girls:

“[the girls have] shown incredible bravely coming forward. They have shown immeasurable courage giving evidence to the police and at court. Their bravery in speaking up knowing that they will be asked about intimate details is considerable and cannot be underestimated."

Bawan Hawre, 28, formerly of Hexthorpe Road, Doncaster, was sentenced to for:

• Six counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view of exploitation
• Two counts of rape of a girl under 13
• Four counts of rape of a girl aged 13/14/15
• Two counts of adult meeting a girl under 16 years of age following grooming
• Two counts of false imprisonment
• Three counts of possession indecent images

A manhunt is currently underway to locate 21-year-old Sharam Muhamadi and we will not stop until we find him. Our officers have been working relentlessly, exploring every single line of enquiry with determination to secure justice for the victims. More detail on Muhamadi's whereabouts after he failed