Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have been sentenced to 14 years each in prison over the death of their newborn daughter.
Marten, age 38, and 51-year-old Gordon, were found guilty of the manslaughter of their newborn daughter Victoria while on the run from authorities and living in a tent on the South Downs in January 2023.
The couple appeared at the Old Bailey for sentencing today.
They also faced sentencing for child cruelty, concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice following two trials spanning six months each.
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have today been sentenced over the death of their newborn daughter | PAGordon was sentenced to 14 years in prison and will serve a further four on an extended licence.
Marten was also handed a 14-year jail term and told she will not be released until she has serve two-thirds of the sentence.
Passing sentence to Marten, Judge Mark Lucraft KC said: “In your case I have given consideration as to whether the custodial sentence should be the same as length as that passed on Mark Gordon or not.
“Having reflected on the issue, I am of the view the custodial terms should be of the same length.
“The issues around future risks have led me to the conclusion that Mark Gordon should be the subject to an extended sentence and there is therefore that distinction between the two of you.”
Judge Lucraft KC concluded his remarks by saying: “Before I leave this case, this was clearly a difficult and painstaking investigation for which many police officers were involved.
“I express my sincere thanks to all of those involved.”
Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who led the homicide investigation into Victoria’s death, said: “The selfish actions of Mark Gordon and Constance Marten resulted in the death of an innocent newborn baby who would have recently had her second birthday and should have had the rest of her life ahead of her.
“This was an incredibly challenging investigation for the hundreds of officers across the UK who were involved in the search. Our main focus throughout the search was finding Victoria alive and we were devastated by the outcome.
“We know today’s sentencing won’t bring Victoria back, but I am pleased our investigation has resulted in the couple who caused her death finally being brought to justice.”
Previously, the court had heard how the defendants exposed baby Victoria to dangerous conditions when they went into hiding to avoid her being taken into care, as four other siblings had been before.
Police launched a nationwide hunt after their car burst into flames on a motorway near Bolton, Greater Manchester, on January 5 2023.
The defendants travelled across England and went off-grid, sleeping in a tent on the South Downs where baby Victoria died days later.
Following seven weeks on the run, the defendants were arrested in Brighton.
After a desperate search, police found their baby dead amid rubbish inside a Lidl bag in a disused shed nearby.
Baby Victoria was briefly captured on CCTV footage in London while the couple were on the run
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PA/METROPOLITAN POLICE
Victoria’s remains were too badly decomposed to establish the cause of death.
The prosecution said she had died from hypothermia in the cold and damp conditions inside the flimsy tent or was smothered despite Marten being warned by social workers about the dangers.
The defendants claimed their daughter’s death was a tragic accident after Marten fell asleep on her.
While on the run, Victoria was only briefly glimpsed on CCTV footage in London wearing the same teddy bear motif babygrow later recovered with her body inside the shopping bag.
