Constance %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_0%%, 38, and %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_1%% %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_2%%, 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 %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_3%% in January 2023.
Background of the Case
The %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_4%% 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 %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_5%% 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 %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_6%%. 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 %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_7%% to Liverpool, eventually taking a taxi to Harwich in %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_8%%. From there, they moved to Colchester and then to east %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_9%%, 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 %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_10%% and set up camp in the South Downs. They were arrested on %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_11%% 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 %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_12%%, 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 %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_13%%.
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.
