Constance Marten’s father relieved daughter found, but alarmed baby is missing

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon are being searched for by police with their newborn baby. Credit: Essex Police
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have been missing since January 5 Credit: PA Media

The father of Constance Marten has said it is a huge relief that his daughter has been found, but it is “very alarming” that her baby remains missing.

Napier Marten told the Independent he loves his daughter dearly but it would have been “far better” if she and boyfriend Mark Gordon had handed themselves in earlier.

The missing aristocrat and her partner were arrested on Monday in Brighton on suspicion of child neglect after several weeks avoiding the police.

A huge search is under way in Sussex for the couple’s two-month-old baby, who was born in early January and has had no medical attention since then, with his parents sleeping rough in freezing temperatures much of the time.Mr Napier told the newspaper: “It is an immense relief to know my beloved daughter Constance has been found, tempered by the very alarming news her baby has yet to be found.“For whatever reasons she and her partner went on the run, the consequences of their actions have increased many fold. It would have been far better if they had handed themselves in earlier.”He thanked the member of the public who tipped off police about the couple’s whereabouts, as well as Metropolitan police officers for their “dogged investigation”.Mr Marten added: “When the time comes, I am longing to see Constance to reassure her that, whatever the weather, I love her dearly and will support her as best I can through the difficult weeks and months here on in.”

Marten, 35, and Gordon, 48, have been travelling around the UK by taxi since their car was found burning on the M61 in Bolton, Greater Manchester, on January 5.

Authorities previously believed the couple had been sleeping rough in a blue tent, and had avoided being traced by the police by moving around frequently and keeping their faces covered in CCTV images.

The couple travelled from Bolton to Liverpool, then to Harwich in Essex, then to east London and then to Newhaven in Sussex, where they were seen near the ferry port on January 8.

A CCTV image of Mark Gordon and Constance Marten walking through Flower and Dean Walk near Brick Lane, east London on 7 January Credit: Metropolitan Police/PA

Miss Marten, who is from a wealthy aristocratic family, was a promising drama student when she first met Mr Gordon in 2016.

Since then the couple have led an isolated life, and in September, when Miss Marten was well into her pregnancy, began moving around rental flats.

Gordon served 20 years in prison in the US for rape and battery committed when he was 14.

It is unknown if their baby was full-term or has any health issues.

Anyone who may be able to assist in the search for the couple’s baby is urged to contact 999.

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