Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have each been sentenced to 14 years in prison for the manslaughter of their newborn baby, Victoria. The couple caused the infant's death after taking her to live in a tent in wintry conditions, a desperate attempt to evade social services, who had previously taken their four older children into care due to safety concerns.

The tragic chain of events began in late 2022 and early 2023 when Marten and Gordon went off-grid. A nationwide hunt was launched by police after their burnt-out car was discovered on the M61 motorway near Bolton on January 5, 2023. Evidence found inside the vehicle indicated that baby Victoria had been born shortly before its abandonment.

Over the course of seven weeks, the couple traveled across England, frequently using taxis, with their newborn. They eventually settled in the countryside near Brighton, sleeping in a flimsy tent on the South Downs. Their evasion ended when they were arrested in Brighton, leading to a desperate search for the baby.

Victoria's body was subsequently found amid rubbish inside a Lidl bag in a disused shed nearby. Due to the advanced state of decomposition, the precise cause of death could not be definitively established. However, the prosecution argued that the infant died from hypothermia caused by the cold and damp conditions inside the tent, or was smothered. The defendants, conversely, claimed Victoria's death was a tragic accident after Marten fell asleep on her.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Mark Lucraft KC strongly reprimanded Marten and Gordon for their actions, stating, "It is clear… neither of you gave much or any thought for the care or love for your baby." He described their behavior as displaying "arrogance" and subjecting Victoria to "neglect of the gravest and most serious type." The judge also noted the absence of "genuine expression of remorse" from either parent, observing their tendency to "blame everyone else," and repeatedly warned them for their "disruptive" conduct in the dock.

Mark Gordon's violent criminal history was highlighted as an aggravating factor during sentencing. In 1989, at the age of 14, he held a woman against her will and raped her at knifepoint in Florida. Within a month, he committed another aggravated battery offense, resulting in a 40-year jail sentence, of which he served 22 years. Furthermore, in 2017, Gordon was convicted of assaulting two female police officers at a Welsh maternity unit where Marten gave birth to their first child using a fake identity.

Constance Marten had also received prior warnings from social workers regarding the risks of falling asleep with a baby on her and the unsuitability of a tent as a living environment for an infant. Both Marten and Gordon chose to cut short their testimonies during their retrial, avoiding cross-examination by the prosecution.

The couple will serve two-thirds of their 14-year custodial terms behind bars before being released on licence for the remainder. Mark Gordon's licence period includes an additional four years due to the danger he was deemed to pose. Det Ch Insp Joanna Yorke, who led the homicide investigation, stated that "The selfish actions of Mark Gordon and Constance Marten resulted in the death of an innocent newborn baby." Chief Crown Prosecutor Jaswant Narwal added, "No child should have had its life cut short in this preventable way. I hope today’s sentences provide a sense of justice and comfort."