A woman named Constance Marten and her partner, known as “Daddy Bear,” have been sentenced to a combined total of 28 years in prison following the tragic death of their baby daughter. The infant, named Victoria, was discovered deceased in a discarded Lidl bag hidden under trash in a shed at an allotment in Brighton. Marten and her partner, Mark Gordon, had been evading authorities by traveling across the country with the baby before her untimely death.
The couple, Marten aged 38 and Gordon aged 51, were found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence after a retrial at the Old Bailey. They were each handed a 14-year prison term, with Gordon receiving an additional four years on extended license. The judge criticized their lack of remorse and avoidance of responsibility for the tragic events leading to their daughter’s death.
Marten and Gordon had fled with their newborn daughter to prevent her from being taken into state care, as their previous four children had been. They were reported missing in early January 2023 and were tracked across multiple locations in the UK before being apprehended in Brighton. The couple resorted to scavenging for food despite having access to significant funds.
During the trial, Marten recounted the events leading to Victoria’s death, claiming the baby passed away after she fell asleep while holding her. The couple had camped in harsh conditions on the South Downs after abandoning their car, which had caught fire during the search for them. Marten’s affluent background and strained relationship with her family were also highlighted during the proceedings.
Despite their troubled pasts and legal issues, Marten and Gordon maintained their innocence regarding the circumstances surrounding Victoria’s death. The court heard detailed accounts of their actions leading up to the tragic event, including a failed attempt to cremate the baby’s body. The couple was ultimately found equally responsible for neglecting their daughter, resulting in their lengthy prison sentences.
The judge emphasized the severity of the neglectful actions that led to Victoria’s death, attributing it to hypothermia caused by exposure to cold temperatures. Marten and Gordon were also convicted of perverting the course of justice, concealing the birth of a child, and neglect, receiving additional prison terms to be served concurrently with their manslaughter sentences.