Preston Davey’s evil killer Jamie Varley to suffer ‘non-stop warfare’ and grim brutality
Vanessa Frake-Harris believes Jamie Varley will face “non-stop psychological warfare” behind the walls of the notorious prison — and could be at risk of two distinct forms of violence
Vanessa suggests Varley will be subjected to “non-stop psychological warfare” (Image: Lancashire Police)
A former prison governor has identified two disturbing methods inmates could use to physically harm convicted child killer Jamie Varley while behind bars. Vanessa Frake-Harris MBE began her career in the prison service at the now-closed HMP Holloway in 1986, and subsequently rose to become head of security and operations at the infamous HMP Wormwood Scrubs in west London.
Ex-teacher Varley received a whole-life order this month following his conviction for sexually abusing and murdering his adopted 13-month-old son, Preston Davey.
He subjected the boy to physical, sexual and emotional abuse before claiming the child had accidentally drowned in the bath. Varley is currently at HMP Wakefield, a Category A long-term high-security prison in West Yorkshire.
Also referred to as “Monster Mansion”, the establishment has housed notorious prisoners including Harold Shipman, Charles Bronson and paedophile Ian Watkins. Vanessa says Varley will face “non-stop psychological warfare” within its walls.
Vanessa Frake-Harris MBE started her career in the prison service at the now-defunct HMP Holloway(Image: Getty Images)
She told The Mail: “There will immediately be loud, systemic chanting across the wings, constant death threats, and being loudly labelled a ‘nonce’ or ‘beast’ every time he is moved outside his cell.”
Vanessa recognised that the prison has accommodated substantial numbers of sex offenders and child abusers, yet it remains what she characterised as a “pressure cooker of extreme violence”. Ideally positioned to offer insight on such issues, Vanessa encountered some of Britain’s most notorious offenders during her 27-year career, amongst them Rose West, Colin Ireland and Myra Hindley.
Vanessa suggested Varley could be at serious risk of physical assault before describing two “common” methods of violence prisoners use against one another. She warned that should he come into contact with the main wings, the danger of harm is “lethal”.
“‘Common tactics include ‘jugging’ (the act of throwing boiling water mixed with sugar over somebody to cause burns) or makeshift shanks fashioned from everyday items like razor blades melted into toothbrushes.”
She theorised that prison authorities responsible for Varley’s safety may have placed him in segregation or on a Vulnerable Prisoner Unit to avert the “immediate risk of death” associated with entering communal areas.
Vanessa said Varley could face serious physical harm(Image: Lancashire Police/PA Wire)
She continued: “Because Varley’s sentence guarantees he will die behind bars, the threat to his life is a permanent, multi-decade reality.”
It comes after former HMP Frankland inmate Ricky Killeen spoke about the torment he believes the child killer faces behind bars. He said Varley would likely have been placed on an ACCT (Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork) — the process used to support prisoners deemed at risk of suicide or self-harm.
Speaking on his Behind Bars TV channel on YouTube, Ricky said: “So they have got to talk to him and mother the little wrongun and make sure he doesn’t do anything to himself. But he is going to be living in misery for the rest of his life. He will be feeling despair, anxiety, hopelessness.”
He claimed Varley would be having “sleepless nights” and “watched round the clock”. Ricky also said he’d be receiving “abuse” from other lags. “So they will be tormenting and torturing him and giving him the utmost of grief.”
He went on to say: “There’s ways where they can irritate him, banging little things outside his door and getting under his skin. He is going to live out the rest of his life in a sick, sorry world where he belongs.”
