Constance Marten, 38, and Mark Gordon, 51, have been sentenced to 14 years in prison following the death of their baby daughter, england/wales/victoria/”>victoria-england/”>Victoria, while they were on the run. Victoria died in a tent on the South Downs in January 2023.

Background of the Case

The couple fled authorities to prevent Victoria from being taken into care, as had happened with their four other siblings. They were found guilty of manslaughter, child cruelty, concealing the birth of a child, and perverting the course of justice after two six-month trials.

Judge’s Remarks

On Monday, Judge Mark Lucraft KC sentenced both defendants and added an additional four years to Gordon’s sentence on extended licence. The judge confirmed that Victoria died from hypothermia due to “significant cold stress” and rejected the defendants’ claims that her death was a result of a tragic accident.

Sequence of Events

Concerns about the couple were first raised on January 5, 2023, when their car caught fire on the M61 in Greater Manchester. Firefighters discovered nappies, clothing, and a placenta inside the vehicle, but Marten and Gordon had fled before help arrived.

They were later tracked as they travelled from Bolton to Liverpool, eventually taking a taxi to Harwich in Essex. From there, they moved to Colchester and then to east London, where CCTV captured them buying a buggy in East Ham. This was the last confirmed sighting of baby Victoria alive.

Discovery of Victoria’s Body

Days later, the couple went to Newhaven in East Sussex and set up camp in the South Downs. They were arrested on February 27, 2023, in Brighton after being recognised by a member of the public. Victoria was not with them, and her body was later discovered in a bag in a nearby shed, too decomposed to determine the exact cause of death.

Gordon’s Violent Past

During the trials, jurors were not initially informed of Gordon’s violent history, which included a 1989 conviction for rape and aggravated battery. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison and released after 22 years. In 2017, he assaulted two police officers at a maternity unit in Wales.

Investigation and Aftermath

Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who led the investigation, expressed the tragedy of the situation, stating, “The selfish actions of Mark Gordon and Constance Marten resulted in the death of an innocent newborn baby.” She added that the investigation involved hundreds of officers and highlighted the devastating outcome of the search for Victoria.