Amy Fenton

Premature newborn Elias Brennan died at Alder Hey Children's Hospital on March 3, 2025, days after his mother found him unresponsive in her bed and emergency responders restored his circulation. Tests identified hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, but post-mortem examinations found no traumatic injuries or natural disease capable of explaining his death. At an inquest, Area Coroner Kate Bisset returned an unascertained cause of death and said sudden infant death syndrome could not be considered because Elias had been sleeping in an adult bed rather than alone in a cot.

Two men reported missing separately in Preston were found dead inside a crashed Peugeot 106 hidden in undergrowth off the A584 near its junction with the A583 in Lancashire. Police believe William Hutchinson and Stuart Tallis died after the vehicle left the road around 5:30am on June 24. Their families are being supported while officers appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage to determine how the collision occurred.

The former Preston home of convicted child murderer Jamie Varley and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley is being auctioned for £370,000, significantly below the price the pair paid before their 2024 arrests. The listing includes a disclosure about their convictions, noting that the offences were not committed at the property and advising prospective buyers to conduct their own checks. The house, previously unknown to neighbours as linked to the case, comes to market following the pair’s lengthy prison sentences for the abuse and death of 13‑month‑old Preston Davey.