Can’t get over poor baby Preston

For Preston to have been removed from his mother, the judge would have had to be satisfied that he was likely to suffer significant harm in her care, and that harm could not be mitigated by the provision of services. I don't think theres any merit in arguing about whether 'just' experiencing abuse or neglect would have been better than being killed. He deserved a safe and loving home.

I agree, and with the number of people who wish to adopt healthy babies you have to wonder how this pair were selected

At the oustet it was reasonable to think he’d have a better chance with adoptive parents. But now? We know now that he would have been better probably anywhere than in that house of horrors.

'It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.' I keep repeating that Bible verse, and the one about mourning with those who mourn and comfort those in need of comfort. Little Preston is dead, my prayers can't help him, but he's with Heavenly Father now and those monsters can't hurt him ever again. My prayers are for those who loved him, and that justice is served.

I can't stop crying thinking about that poor child. My DS isn't much older and I can't imagine someone doing something like that to him. I'd like those vile scumbags to suffer. I haven't seen the video of them where they keep waking him up, I'd howl. My mum describing it was bad enough. I keep wanting to scream at the horror of it all. That poor little baby.

This is an interesting idea. Actuarial tools are used in criminal justice with reasonable (by no means perfect) results. Those tools are old and not especially sophisticated so I’d be interested in what could be achieved with genuinely better ones.

Yes. He’d have been better off with his mother. There is nothing to suggest she’d rape and kill her own son.

That Varley was an arrogant cunt,used to getting his own way and no doubt crying homophobia if anyone stood up to him , clear in the police interview when he's arguing with the officers reading out his offences, horrendous horrible prick who gives me the creeps just listening to him. Previous neighbours have described him as a little prick.
Men shouldn't be adopting children,no way.

Just makes it all even more harrowing doesn’t it, so much evil everywhere

Are those concerned about the baby's removal from his mother aware of this?
https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2026-06-15/mother-of-baby-murdered-by-teacher-was-jailed-for-murdering-pensioner

Yes there can be issues with a child who's experienced this, but does anyone really imagine he'd have been any better off with her?

His biological mum was a convicted murderer. Adoption could have worked if he wasn’t handed to this evil couple.

I have already apologised for my clumsy wording.

Well, do we know what happened to him during the nine months he was carried by his birth mother? Was he exposed to drugs, alcohol, domestic violence and abuse, chaos, dysfunction and or poor nutrition? You don’t think that any of these in utero experiences could result in trauma. It’s actually also a trauma being removed from your birth mother.

It depends on how you view PWT, not everyone is in agreement.

But if you want to start talking about trite, it’s pretty ignorant and trite to suggest the biggest trauma in Preston Davey’s life was his removal at five days old from a mother who couldn’t care for him.

This isn't true. A child doesn't have to have memories of trauma to experience it or to suffer the effects.

Yes, I’ve already acknowledged my clumsy wording. Have you read the thread?

Well not every fostered child is traumatised. If he went to Sandra and Paul his foster parents (names have been publicised so I’m breaking no laws.) from a few days old he’d (Preston) wouldn’t have been aware of anything different. To him they were his mummy and daddy and primary care givers

Indeed. Adoption in this country is a fucking mess. How did they miss the signs. I don’t even know how to honour such a child. Or any child
going through the system and the abuse. We need to change the system.

It isn't relevant in itself, but given that - yet again - the poor little lad had been seen by numerous professionals in the run-up to his death I have to wonder if their relationship status caused any reluctance to intervene

💯 Delusion!

I'd say being sexually tortured and abused over months is considerably more of a trauma. He was clearly a happy and loved baby before being handed to that pair of fucking deviants.

“Lessons to be learnt”
It’s just something they spew out when things go wrong. Lessons are not learnt because here we are yet again. Poor baby Preston wasn’t the first to suffer in the most appalling way and he won’t be the last. All the professionals involved in his care have got a lot to answer for. Sheer incompetence!

Apologies I'd quoted the most recent post, I meant it for the original poster who had suggested early removal might have prevented trauma. And whilst I'm very glad that adopters exist, I can't imagine what it's like to take on that responsibility. Im guessing from your post that you would have had some very challenging experiences as a family (sorry if that sounds clumsy, I don't mean to imply any criticism of your children in that)

Delusion.

Cases like this make me really wonder how anyone can believe in a God.

Would you have suggestions about how this could be prevented? I suppose there’s always a risk, be interested in getting your views as you have experience of the system.