UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Constance Marten and Mark Gordon to face prison after their newborn died; they hid the baby off-grid, leading to her death in freezing conditions.
As reported by The Telegraph, Mr Marten and her partner Gordon face long prison terms after their baby daughter’s manslaughter conviction in July.
Which offences did Marten and Gordon face conviction for?
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were convicted of concealing a child’s birth, perverting justice, and child cruelty after a five-month Old Bailey trial.
The jury, expected to decide in six weeks, was discharged after failing to reach verdicts on other counts, sending almost 200 questions to the judge.
Jurors were told the couple left their burning car on a Bolton motorway and took taxis across Essex, London, and the South Downs, camping in a flimsy tent with their daughter.
The couple stayed off-grid before Victoria’s birth, seeking to keep her from adoption like their previous four children.
How did Constance Marten and Mark Gordon’s daughter die?
Baby Victoria died in freezing conditions while her parents fled authorities, the court was told, after Marten fell asleep breastfeeding, risking suffocation or hypothermia.
Two months after fleeing, the couple’s newborn, Victoria, was found in a shopping bag in a Brighton shed, with prosecutors calling their actions grossly negligent.
The couple called baby Victoria’s death a tragic accident, but were convicted of many offences.
Why did Constance Marten and Mark Gordon go on the run?
The couple claimed they fled to protect their newborn after social services removed their older children.
Martin said,
“We were hiding from the entire British public because I was worried about Victoria being taken.”
The couple feared being tracked by private investigators and cycled through a stash of disposable phones. Police arrested them on 27 February 2023 at 9:35 pm over child neglect allegations.
What evidence linked Marten and Gordon to their daughter’s death?
Victoria’s death was linked to Marten and Gordon after her body was discovered in a grocery bag in an abandoned shed near their capture site. While on the run, they lived outdoors in freezing conditions without medical help, endangering the baby.
CCTV showed Victoria left vulnerable, while Marten and Gordon admitted she died asleep; prosecutors say their reckless actions and past neglect led to her death.
What did prosecutors reveal about Marten and Gordon’s secret birth plan?
Prosecutor Tom Little KC said Gordon and Marten planned to “go dark” to hide her pregnancy from authorities and keep the baby.
The prosecutor stated that the case’s aggravating factors include the baby’s extreme vulnerability and the very high risk of death.
What did Constance Marten say about her estranged wealthy family?
Constance Marten claimed her rich family regarded her as an “embarrassment”.
She said,
“There’s a few people in my biological family who see me as an embarrassment and are scared I will speak out about them and will stop at nothing to get what they want.”
Marten added,
“Some people who are privileged think they are above the rules. It is harrowing, you are up against these people who will stop at nothing, who have endless resources and connections.”
What did Mark Gordon’s lawyer say about his past trauma and the case?
Philippa McAtasney KC, defending Mark Gordon, told the court there is “at least some doubt” over hypothermia, and it should favour the defendants.
She told the court Gordon wants the judge reminded of his trial evidence, including his wife’s size, their dry clothes, and the date the baby died.
Gordon said, “I can’t grieve, I’m always the bad guy, adding, “I will live with this for the rest of my life.”
McAtasney said Gordon and Marten, in pain, acted irrationally while hiding off-grid with their baby, adding, Gordon accepts, “obviously they didn’t make the right decisions,: but they were “not thinking properly or rationally.”
How did the couple’s prior history influence the investigation?
Previous child protection concerns around Marten and Gordon influenced the probe, as authorities noted repeated avoidance and failure to cooperate.
The couple’s off-grid lifestyle and fleeing authorities strengthened investigators’ view that neglect led to their baby’s death.
Key facts about accidental child deaths in the UK
Between April 2019 and March 2022, 644 children died from accidents or violence in England. Child drownings doubled by September 2024, raising safety concerns.
Over 2019–2025, 13 children under 11 died from unsafe windows in rented or temporary housing. Faulty or missing window locks contributed to many of these deaths.