Baby Preston's evil killer fears he will end up like Lostprophets paedophile Ian Watkins, a media report claims. Jamie Varley, 37, was told he would die in jail after murdering 13-month-old Preston.
Varley, who adopted the child with his partner, ex-public schoolboy John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, was given a whole life term and told he will never be eligible for parole after his conviction for a murder which "shocked the nation". He is being held at Preston Prison in Lancashire, but he reportedly fears being transferred to a high-security jail.
The killer has reportedly said: "I will end up like Ian Watkins."
Watkins, 48, died after he was allegedly stabbed in the neck at HMP Wakefield in October last year. Rashid Gedel and Samuel Dodsworth have been charged with murder.
A source told The Sun that Varley is having a "tough time" but things will only get worse for him.
The former teacher is reportedly listed as an escape risk because he has either talked about escaping or tried to.
It is understood the escape risk status means Varley will be subject to greater scrutiny, including regular checks and not being allowed outside or in communal areas.
The source said "the worst thing" about it is that inmates have to wear a yellow and green jumpsuit - known as "patches" - which mark them out for being under the spotlight.
Varley was sentenced on Thursday (June 18). McGowan-Fazakerley was jailed for 25 years for allowing Varley’s treatment of the child and taking part in the sexual abuse.
Jurors at the trial heard Preston was treated as a "plaything" and routinely sexually assaulted and physically abused after the couple adopted him when he was nine months old.
Mr Justice Turner said Varley’s "growing and selfish resentment towards Preston" played a part in the abuse.
The judge said his professional background as a teacher together with his "charm and easy manner" was used to reassure others that all was well.
Preston had been “thriving”, a little boy who “lit up the room” with smiles, the court heard.
But in the under four months he was in the care of Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley, he was routinely ill-treated, had indecent images and videos taken of him and suffered 40 traumatic injuries.
A social services investigation is under way but Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England, has already described the “harrowing” case as a failure of state safeguarding.
Preston’s cause of death was found to be acute upper airway obstruction by an object or objects inserted into his mouth.
His biological mother and grandmother, Sarah and Debbie Davey, sat in the public gallery during the sentencing and sobbed throughout the hearing.
When his biological mother was 14, she was jailed for the “unspeakably wicked” murder of a frail pensioner in 1998. She had been in and out of prison since then.
