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Runaway aristocrat Constance Marten, 38, and her partner Mark Gordon, 50, have been convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence following the death of their newborn daughter Victoria, after the couple went on the run in a “desperately selfish” attempt to avoid social services.
The pair were found guilty at the Old Bailey today after a retrial, having previously been convicted of child cruelty, concealing the birth of a child, and perverting the course of justice. Moments after the verdict, Gordon erupted in the dock, shouting: “I’m not surprised by the verdict. It was faulty, it was unlawful. This is not over, it has just begun.”
The couple’s case shocked the nation after a £1.2 million nationwide manhunt was launched by police in January 2023 when their car was found ablaze in Greater Manchester with a placenta inside—signalling the birth of a baby in secret.
Flight from Social Services
The couple travelled across the UK in taxis, evading authorities from Bolton to Liverpool, Harwich, and East London, eventually resorting to camping in freezing temperatures on the South Downs.
Authorities believe baby Victoria died of hypothermia or co-sleeping complications inside a flimsy tent. Her body was later found hidden in a Lidl bag for life, beneath an empty beer can and sandwich packaging in a disused shed near Brighton.
Detectives described the flight as a “deliberate and dangerous” act to prevent social workers from removing the child—like they had with the couple’s previous four children, due to concerns about domestic violence and safeguarding.
At the moment police are powerless to protect that child until a baby draws their first breath,
said Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, calling for pre-birth protection orders to prevent similar tragedies.
A Dark Past Concealed
The trial revealed shocking details about Mark Gordon’s past. A convicted rapist, Gordon was deported from the US after serving 20 years in prison for two violent attacks on women, beginning at age 14.
He kept his past hidden from Marten, a trust fund heiress whose family has ties to the Royal Family. The two entered a “spiritual marriage” in Peru and had multiple children together before escalating abuse and evasion led to court-ordered care for their children.
During one pregnancy, Gordon threw Marten out of a window, causing internal injuries and risking both her life and that of her unborn child.
“Worse Than Teenage Murderers”
Presiding judges accused the couple of deliberately obstructing the investigation and misleading the court. They were compared unfavourably to “teenage murderers” by one senior judge due to their repeated lies and manipulation of legal processes.
“Lies fell from her mouth like confetti in the wind,” said Prosecutor Tom Little KC of Marten’s courtroom behaviour.
The couple’s defence cost £600,000 in legal aid, despite Marten’s personal wealth of over £2.4 million. She had reportedly claimed benefits and refused a trust-funded home, demanding council housing instead.
National Review and Calls for Reform
The National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel is now investigating how the system failed to protect baby Victoria. Lawmakers and law enforcement officials are calling for legislative reform to allow police and social services to act before a child is born, when risks are already clearly established.
“If you look at cases like Baby P, this could save lives,” DS Basford added.
Timeline Summary
- January 5, 2023: Couple’s car found ablaze with placenta inside.
- January–March 2023: Manhunt spans across the country.
- March 1, 2023: Marten and Gordon arrested in Brighton.
- March 2, 2023: Baby Victoria’s body found in shed.
- July 14, 2025: Convicted of manslaughter by gross negligence at the Old Bailey.
