The Crime Desk

The Trial

The Trial goes behind the headlines of some of the biggest trials in the world. We take you into the courtroom, bringing you the detail as the evidence unfolds, examining key moments and carrying out exclusive interviews with detectives, victims, and experts. For ad-free listening to The Trial, exclusive bonus episodes every week, and complete access to previous series of the show, subscribe to The Crime Desk now. Visit  www.thecrimedesk.com to become a member. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author

The Crime Desk

Category

True Crime

Podcast website

www.thecrimedesk.com

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

Update Episode - Simon Levy: A Serial Sexual Predator - The CCTV 10.07.2026

In this update episode, Caroline and Nick talk us through the CCTV footage that was shown in court of the last moments of Sheryl Wilkins life. It shows Sheryl being followed by Simon Levy with his hood up, him approaching her and then the two of them disappearing into the B&M carpark in Tottenham for almost 50 minutes, after which only Simon Levy is seen leaving the scene. Sherly’s body was fo...

Simon Levy: A Serial Sexual Predator - Did These Women Have To Die? 07.07.2026

In this episode Caroline and Nick have the answers to why the alleged attack and rape of a women in Tottenham, which Simon Levy is now on trial for was initially closed down by the police. It was later reopened after the bodies of two women were found five months apart and the police suspected they’d been murdered. By then Simon Levy was in custody and he was linked to the alleged attacks on all t...

Simon Levy: A Serial Sexual Predator - “He raped me” 03.07.2026

In this episode Caroline and Nick have the words of the woman Simon Levy is accused of raping. She told the court she would never forget his face or the smell of his hands as he allegedly smothered and raped her in Tottenham in January 2025. He’s then accused of murdering two other women later in the same year. He claims he had consensual sex with the three women but he didn’t harm them. The jury...

Simon Levy: The Sexual Predator on Trial 30.06.2026

In this new series Caroline and Nick cover the trial of Simon Levy, a sexual predator who’s now on trial for rape and murder. The allegation is he targeted three vulnerable women in London “thinking that he would get away with it.” He allegedly raped one woman before murdering two more over an eight month period in 2025. The final alleged murder was committed when he was on bail after being arrest...

NEW TRIAL: Simon Levy: The Sexual Predator 29.06.2026

Caroline and Nick are back with a new series following the trial of Simon Levy, a convicted serial sexual predator now accused of rape and murder. Prosecutors allege he targeted vulnerable women. Two were allegedly murdered and one survived being alleged raped and suffocated. He denies all the charges, and Trial UK will be at the Old Bailey covering every day of the case. Subscribe via  thecr...

The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: Getting Behind the Trial 23.06.2026

In this special episode Caroline and Liz get behind the trial of Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley. We’ve got an insight into the police investigation and the questions which now need to be asked and answered. We also gain an insight into the mind of a man like Jamie Varley from expert Criminologist and former Prison Governor, Professor David Wilson. And we have the emotional words of...

The Tragic Life of Preston Davey: The Day of Reckoning 18.06.2026

A teacher, a head of year, a safeguarding lead will never be released from prison. A judge today decided Jamie Varley’s crimes against Preston Davey were so sinister, so depraved, so relentlessly evil that he should never be free.  In this episode, Caroline and Liz have all the details from an emotional day in court, including the words of Preston’s foster carers Sandra and Paul Cooper and hi...

The Tragic Life of Preston Davey: The Verdicts 15.06.2026

Preston Davey was the victim of two sinister and wicked men, who “chose” him from an adoption website - then they both abused him and one of them murdered him. That’s what a jury have now decided. Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerly denied to the bitter end that they mistreated him, but the jury didn’t believe them. Today Caroline and Liz have got those verdicts in full and what happened as th...

The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: The Jury 12.06.2026

The fate of Jamie Varley and John McGowan-Fazakerley is now in the hands of the jury. As this trial comes to an end Caroline and Liz have the final arguments, the final pleas and the final instructions to the jury. The decisions on the guilt or innocence of the two men on trial is now up to them. Subscribe via thecrimedesk.com Follow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrime Email us thetrial@dailymail.co...

The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “A Tragedy Waiting to Happen” 09.06.2026

Preston Davey was in “peril at the hands of Jamie Varley” and John McGowan Fazakerly knew it - that’s what Peter Wright KC told the jury in this episode of the podcast with Caroline and Liz. As he closed his case, the prosecutor said Preston’s death was a “tragedy waiting to happen” - he said Jamie Varley had a sexual interest in children and he subjected Preston to a “litany of physical and psych...

The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “Your worst fears” 05.06.2026

In this episode John McGowan-Fazakerley tells the jury how he turned detective to try to piece together what caused his adopted son, Preston Davey, to die. He said he knew now that his trust in Jamie Varley had been misplaced because he hadn't known the extent of the disturbing content on his phone. John McGowan-Fazakerley denied ever abusing or harming Preston - he said the allegations were abhor...

Update Episode - The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: John McGowan-Fazakerley 02.06.2026

In this update episode Caroline and Liz have the moment John McGowan-Fazakerley told his story. As he gave evidence for the first time, he said he and his partner Jamie Varley doted on their son. He also said he'd never seen Jamie Varley hit, punch, kick, poke, prod, smack or bite Preston and he said if he ever suspected his son was his danger, he would have grabbed him and run out of the front do...

The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: Preston’s “brilliant life” 29.05.2026

In this episode Caroline and Liz have the cross-examination of Jamie Varley. He denies the prosecution’s claims that he abused Preston to punish him because he was struggling with being his main carer and resented his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, for working or being away. He also denies making up a ‘cock and bull story’ about how Preston died to cover his tracks. Instead he tells the jury th...

Update Episode - The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “Your Plaything” 27.05.2026

In this emergency update episode Caroline and Liz have the moment Jamie Varley’s story was picked apart. He was accused by the prosecutor of abusing Preston for his own amusement and gratification, of killing him, and then inventing a “cock and bull” story to cover it up. Subscribe via thecrimedesk.com Follow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrime Email us thetrial@dailymail.com WhatsApp us +447796657512 (s...

The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: Divided 26.05.2026

In this episode Caroline and Liz have more of the evidence from Jamie Varley as he continues to give evidence in his own defence. He told the jury he didn’t agree with the medical evidence that Preston died because his airway was deliberately obstructed. He also said he didn’t lie to his partner, John McGowan Fazakerley, about what happened on the day Preston died. He also said the couple hadn’t b...

The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: Jamie Varley 22.05.2026

In this episode Jamie Varley tells his story. As the defence case gets underway Jamie Varley entered the witness box to deny abusing or killing Preston Davey. He said he was the safest person in the world for Preston and being a teacher and a daddy was all he ever wanted. He also denied keeping pictures on his phone which were “trophies” of Preston being sexually abused. But he said he accepted lo...

BONUS: The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: "You've killed him Jamie." 20.05.2026

In this extra episode Caroline and Liz have the moment Jamie Varley is faced with the extent of the allegations against him - and his reaction to them. He tells detective they are wrong that he sexually abused and murdered his adopted 13-month-old son, Preston Davey, and he will fight the allegations until the day he dies. Subscribe via thecrimedesk.com Follow us on TikTok @DailyMailCrime Email us...

The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “Frozen Watchfulness” 19.05.2026

In this episode Caroline and Liz have the evidence from a doctor who said in some of the videos on Jamie Varley’s phone, Preston Davey was in life threatening situations. Dr Jo Gifford, an expert in child sex abuse, said Preston showed signs of being mistreated and abused, and there was footage of him before he died which showed several “near misses.”  We also have the evidence from Preston’s...

The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: Was Preston bitten and abused? 15.05.2026

In this episode Caroline and Liz have the medical evidence which the jury were told were consistent with Preston Davey being bitten and sexually assaulted before he died. A pathologist with 40 years experience said she found evidence that he could have been smothered or he may have died from having something forced into his mouth. She also said he suffered bruises which were not accidental. Presto...

The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “That’s Bullsh*t” 12.05.2026

In this episode Caroline and Liz have the moment Jamie Varley was accused of the murder and sexual abuse of the baby he adopted - and he told police he would fight them to prove his innocence. In video footage shown in court he said he didn't believe Preston Davey, who was just 13 months old when he died, had injuries all over his body, and he said accusations of sexual assault were bullshit. He a...

The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: “Was it you?” 08.05.2026

In this episode we have the words of Jamie Varley as he denied abusing and murdering the baby boy he adopted. In a series of police interviews we’re bringing you today he says photos and videos the prosecution say are cruel or indecent were “totally innocent.” He also denied having any sexual interest in Preston and he said he did not kill him. But the jury also heard evidence that Preston had 45...

Update Episode - The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: "It's my Fault" 05.05.2026

In this update episode Caroline and Liz have the moment 13-month-old Preston Davey was brought into A&E in the minutes before he died. CCTV footage was shown in court of Jamie Varley and John McGowan Fazakerley running into the hospital in Blackpool carrying the baby and the jury was told Jamie Varley repeatedly said: "It's my fault." He told doctors he'd left Preston in the bath alone for a f...

The Tragic Life Of Preston Davey: The Phone Footage 01.05.2026

In this episode Caroline and Liz have the latest in the case of Preston Davey - a baby the prosecution say was abused and murdered after he was adopted by two men - Jamie Varley and John McGowan Fazakerly. Today we’ve got evidence of the videos and pictures from Jamie Varley’s mobile phone. In many of them Preston is naked and in some Jamie Varley appears to be naked too. The prosecution say the j...

Driven to Death? - Domestic Abuse: "A National Emergency" 28.04.2026

In this episode the scale of domestic violence is exposed as Caroline sits down with Louisa Rolfe, the Assistant Chief Constable of the Met Police. New figures released today show teenage girls are increasingly being abused by partners and the numbers of women who take their lives due to domestic abuse now far exceeds those who are killed by a violent partner. Jess Philips, the Minister for Safegu...

Driven to Death? - The Broader Questions 24.04.2026

n this episode Caroline, Nick and Liz have the latest on the trial of the men accused of abusing Preston Davey - and why it's been delayed. We've also got a chat about jury trials and why there are more voices calling for David Lammy not to scrap them, and after the acquittal of Chris Trybus this week for manslaughter, coercive control and rape, we've got an interview about the broader issues arou...

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