Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have each been sentenced to 14 years in prison for the gross negligence manslaughter of their newborn daughter, Victoria. The case, which concluded in July 2025 at the Old Bailey, drew intense public attention due to Marten’s aristocratic background and the couple’s months-long flight across England while evading authorities with the baby.
Victoria died of hypothermia, a finding that contradicted the couple’s claim of accidental smothering. The judge, Sir Anthony Lewis, determined that Marten and Gordon had wilfully neglected the infant, exposing her to freezing conditions for days while they fled police and social services. The sentence marks the end of a legal process that began with a car fire on the M61 motorway in January 2023 and spanned two trials.
The case has also raised questions about the intersection of privilege, parental responsibility, and the limits of the justice system when it comes to protecting vulnerable newborns. Legal observers have noted the rarity of a gross negligence manslaughter conviction in circumstances where the exact cause of death could not be definitively determined by pathologists. BBC News covered the trial in detail throughout its duration.
What happened in the Constance Marten case?
Verdict
Guilty of gross negligence manslaughter of baby Victoria
Sentence
14 years in prison (July 2025)
Key figures
Constance Marten (aristocrat) and Mark Gordon (convicted rapist)
Case status
Convicted and sentenced; no appeal confirmed as of mid-2026
- Marten and Gordon were found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter after their baby Victoria died while they were living off-grid during a nationwide manhunt.
- The couple fled across England for weeks after their car was set on fire near Bolton, discarding Marten’s passport, burner phones, and a fresh placenta.
- Victoria’s body was discovered in a plastic bag inside a shed at an allotment in Brighton in March 2023.
- The first trial ended in July 2024 with a hung jury on the manslaughter charge; the couple was convicted on lesser charges before being retried.
- Judge Sir Anthony Lewis ruled that Victoria died of hypothermia, rejecting the couple’s account of accidental smothering.
- Both defendants showed no remorse and attempted to blame others, according to the judge’s sentencing remarks.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Defendants | Constance Marten (38), Mark Gordon (51) |
| Verdict | Guilty of gross negligence manslaughter |
| Trial location | Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) |
| Date of conviction | July 14, 2025 |
| Sentence | 14 years in prison |
| Baby’s name | Victoria |
| Cause of death | Hypothermia (as ruled by the judge) |
| Key event | Burning car found near Bolton, January 2023 |
When is the Constance Marten sentence date?
The sentencing took place in July 2025, shortly after the jury returned its verdict on Monday, July 14. Judge Sir Anthony Lewis handed down a 14-year prison term to both Marten and Gordon for gross negligence manslaughter. The sentence was based on the finding that Victoria died of hypothermia, not accidental smothering as the couple had claimed. The Crown Prosecution Service issued a statement confirming the outcome.
What was the verdict in the trial?
The jury convicted Marten and Gordon of gross negligence manslaughter on July 14, 2025, following a retrial. The first trial had ended in July 2024 with a hung jury on that charge, though the couple was convicted of concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice at that earlier stage. The prosecution chose to retry the manslaughter charge with improved evidence, arguing that the baby had died of cold exposure.
Will Constance Marten file an appeal?
As of mid-2026, no appeal has been confirmed in publicly available records. The couple was convicted after a second trial, and the judge’s sentencing was based on hypothermia. A 14-year sentence for manslaughter is potentially subject to appeal, but no formal notice has been lodged according to the sources reviewed.
Judge Sir Anthony Lewis stated that Marten and Gordon had “wilfully neglected” Victoria, exposing her to “freezing cold” for days while fleeing police and social workers. He noted they showed “no remorse” and attempted to blame others for the baby’s death. The sentence reflects the severity of the neglect rather than the precise mechanism of death, which pathologists could not conclusively determine due to decomposition.
What did the baby autopsy reveal?
Victoria’s body was in an advanced state of decomposition when it was discovered in a plastic bag inside a shed at an allotment in Brighton on March 1, 2023. Pathologists who examined the remains were unable to determine the exact cause of death due to the condition of the body. The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary published the official judgment document outlining the evidence.
Pathologists’ findings
The forensic evidence was a central point of contention in both trials. Because decomposition had obscured the usual markers of cause of death, the two pathologists who examined Victoria could not reach a definitive conclusion. The couple had claimed that Victoria died accidentally as a result of smothering while co-sleeping. However, the judge rejected this account and ruled that the baby died of hypothermia, based on the totality of the circumstances including the freezing conditions the infant was exposed to while the couple fled across England.
The decomposition of Victoria’s body meant that pathologists could not confirm the cause of death through standard medical examination. The judge’s ruling of hypothermia was therefore based on circumstantial evidence: the baby was kept in a Lidl bag or under Marten’s coat during a British winter, with no adequate shelter or warmth, while the couple evaded capture for weeks.
What is Constance Marten’s family background?
Constance Marten comes from a wealthy aristocratic family. Her background stands in stark contrast to the circumstances in which she and Gordon were living at the time of Victoria’s death. She is the daughter of Napier Marten and Virginie de Selliers, and her family has been listed in Tatler’s social register.
Constance Marten’s upbringing and family
Marten was raised in privilege. Her father, Napier Marten, made a public appeal in January 2023 for his daughter to turn herself in with the baby. Her mother, Virginie de Selliers, published a letter in February 2023 offering support. Despite this background, Marten had multiple children with Gordon, all of whom were taken into care by child services. During her pregnancy with Victoria, she had sought no NHS antenatal care and, at six months pregnant, claimed to be living in a campervan.
Mark Gordon’s criminal history
Mark Gordon is a convicted rapist with a history of violent crimes. He and Marten met in 2016 and began a relationship that led to the birth of several children, all of whom were removed from their care. Gordon’s previous convictions were referenced during the trial as part of the broader picture of the couple’s lifestyle and decision-making. The Wikipedia page dedicated to the case provides a comprehensive overview.
Constance Marten’s family has been featured in Tatler’s social register, reflecting their position within the British aristocracy. This background became a focal point of media coverage, as it seemed sharply at odds with the couple’s decision to live a fugitive existence in cars and short-term accommodations, culminating in the death of their newborn daughter.
What is the full timeline of events?
- 2016: Constance Marten and Mark Gordon meet. Marten is from an aristocratic background; Gordon is a convicted rapist.
- September 2022: The couple begins moving frequently across England, living in vehicles or short-term accommodations.
- December 20–28, 2022: They book a holiday cottage in Northumberland, leaving it in a “disgusting state.” Their Suzuki breaks down on the M18 motorway on December 28; a recovery driver sees no baby.
- January 4–5, 2023: The couple checks into hotels in Cheshire and Manchester. On January 5, their Peugeot 206 catches fire on the M61 near Bolton. They flee, discarding Marten’s passport, burner phones, and a fresh placenta. A high-risk missing persons inquiry is launched. The Metropolitan Police offered a £10,000 reward for information.
- Birth of Victoria: The baby is born before January 5, 2023. The exact date remains unknown.
- January 5–February 27, 2023: The couple flees across England in cars and taxis, keeping Victoria under Marten’s coat or in a Lidl bag. Napier Marten appeals publicly on January 19. The Metropolitan Police offers a £10,000 reward on January 31. Virginie de Selliers publishes a letter on February 7. The couple is arrested in Brighton on February 27 without the baby.
- February 28–March 2, 2023: They are re-arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. On March 1, Sussex Police finds Victoria’s body in a plastic bag inside a shed at an allotment. On March 2, the couple is charged with gross negligence manslaughter, concealing the birth of a child, and perverting the course of justice.
- July 2024: The first trial ends with a hung jury on the manslaughter charge. The couple is convicted on lesser charges. The prosecution chooses to retry the manslaughter charge.
- July 14, 2025: The jury convicts Marten and Gordon of gross negligence manslaughter. They are sentenced to 14 years in prison. Judge Sir Anthony Lewis rules that Victoria died of hypothermia and notes that the couple showed no remorse.
What is confirmed and what remains unclear?
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Both defendants found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter. | Whether an appeal will be filed by either defendant has not been confirmed. |
| Baby Victoria died while in the care of Marten and Gordon. | The exact date of Victoria’s birth and death are unknown. |
| The couple disappeared in January 2023 after their car was set on fire. | Some aspects of the couple’s motive and mental state remain unclear. |
| The judge ruled the cause of death as hypothermia, rejecting the accidental smothering claim. | Pathologists could not determine the exact cause of death due to decomposition. |
What is the broader context of this case?
The case of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon is notable for the juxtaposition of Marten’s privileged upbringing — her family is listed in Tatler’s social register — and the tragic outcome of her baby’s death while the couple lived a fugitive existence. Legal experts have noted the rarity of gross negligence manslaughter convictions in such circumstances, particularly where pathologists could not confirm the precise cause of death. For readers interested in further detail, a related article on Related high-profile UK criminal cases provides additional context on similar legal proceedings.
The case has also sparked discussion about social services intervention, parental responsibility, and the justice system’s handling of vulnerable newborns. The couple had multiple children who were taken into care, yet they continued to have children and avoid antenatal care. The trial highlighted the limitations of both medical evidence and child protection frameworks when parents actively evade oversight.
Judge Sir Anthony Lewis’s remarks about the couple’s lack of remorse and their attempts to blame others underscored the court’s view that Victoria’s death was not an accident but a foreseeable consequence of deliberate neglect. The 14-year sentence reflects the gravity with which the court viewed this failure of parental duty.
What do the official sources and statements say?
Several official sources have documented the case, including the Crown Prosecution Service, the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, and media outlets such as the BBC. The CPS issued a statement following the conviction, emphasizing the couple’s disregard for their baby’s welfare.
“Constance Marten and Mark Gordon showed a shocking disregard for their baby’s welfare, leading to her tragic death.”
— Crown Prosecution Service, official press release on the conviction
Further context is available through the detailed narrative published by the BBC, which covers the couple’s chaotic lives, and the official judgment document published by the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. The Doughty Street Chambers also published material relating to the family court aspects of the case. A dedicated Doughty Street Chambers article covers the family court proceedings in depth.
Summary: What does the Constance Marten case mean?
The Constance Marten case represents a rare and tragic intersection of privilege, criminality, and parental failure. Marten and Gordon were convicted of gross negligence manslaughter after their baby Victoria died of hypothermia while they fled across England in freezing conditions. Both received 14-year sentences in July 2025. The case has prompted broader conversations about how the legal system handles cases where parents actively avoid social services and medical care, and where forensic evidence is limited by decomposition. No appeal has been confirmed as of mid-2026. For readers interested in further detail, a related article on Related high-profile UK criminal cases provides additional context on similar legal proceedings.
Frequently asked questions
What is Constance Marten’s family tree?
Constance Marten is the daughter of Napier Marten and Virginie de Selliers. Her family is listed in Tatler’s social register and she was raised in an aristocratic, privileged background. Her father publicly appealed for her to turn herself in during the manhunt.
Who are Constance Marten’s brothers?
Specific details about Constance Marten’s brothers are not included in publicly available court documents or media coverage related to the case. Her father Napier Marten made a public appeal, but no information about siblings has been formally reported.
Where can I find the Constance Marten podcast?
The podcast “The Trial of Constance Marten & Mark Gordon” is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It covers the manhunt, arrest, sentencing, and the judge’s remarks on the couple’s “shameful behaviour.”
What was the Constance Marten Tatler article about?
Tatler has referenced Constance Marten’s family in its social register, highlighting her aristocratic background. This connection became a notable aspect of media coverage given the contrast with the couple’s fugitive lifestyle and the tragic outcome of the case.
Is there a Constance Marten Wikipedia page?
Yes, Wikipedia has a page titled “Constance Marten and Mark Gordon” that provides a comprehensive summary of the case, including the timeline, trials, family background, and legal outcomes.
What happened in the burning car incident?
On January 5, 2023, the couple’s Peugeot 206 caught fire on the M61 motorway near Bolton. They fled the scene, discarding Marten’s passport, burner phones, and a fresh placenta in the wreckage. This triggered a high-risk missing persons inquiry.
Why was the baby’s cause of death disputed?
Victoria’s body was significantly decomposed, meaning pathologists could not determine the exact cause of death. The couple claimed accidental smothering, but the judge ruled based on the circumstances that the baby died of hypothermia from cold exposure.
What sentence did Mark Gordon receive?
Mark Gordon received the same sentence as Constance Marten: 14 years in prison for gross negligence manslaughter. He is also a convicted rapist with a history of violent crimes, though his sentence specifically relates to Victoria’s death.
Has an appeal been filed in this case?
As of mid-2026, no appeal has been confirmed in publicly available records. A 14-year sentence for manslaughter could potentially be appealed, but no formal notice has been documented in the sources reviewed.
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Lucy Palmer covers crime, courts and community affairs across Southampton and the South Coast.