Runaway aristocrat ‘camping’ with newborn
Police fear for baby’s life in sub-zero conditions after missing mother and rapist boyfriend seen buying tent
‘My officers will continue working tirelessly behind the scenes to piece together the family’s movements and current whereabouts’
A RUNAWAY woman from an aristocratic family is sleeping rough in a tent with her newborn and partner in subzero temperatures, police have said.
Constance Marten, 35, and Mark Gordon, 48, disappeared at the beginning of the month after she gave birth in the back of a car.
Police fear that the child’s life is at risk after Gordon, a convicted rapist, was spotted buying camping equipment in east London.
Detectives renewed urgent appeals for help to trace the trio after freezing temperatures gripped the country.
Gordon went into Argos in Whitechapel Road at 6.19pm on Jan 7, where he bought large bags full of camping gear. He paid in cash for a blue two-man tent, two sleeping bags and two pillows. He left the store at 6.40pm.
CCTV footage of the pair show they were wearing masks to conceal their faces. They also appeared to have purchased a pram for the baby, and tied plastic bags over their shoes.
They were then spotted walking for about three hours in the Whitechapel Road area, before trying to flag down three black cabs, but the drivers refused to pick them up.
They left the area on foot and were last seen walking along Brick Lane, towards Bethnal Green Road, at 10pm.
Det Supt Lewis Basford, who is leading the investigation, said: “We are extremely concerned that a newborn baby – less than a week old at the time – has been exposed to sub-freezing cold baby, should be forced to endure such dangerous, potentially life-threatening, conditions.
“This is why it is absolutely vital that anyone with information about their whereabouts contacts us as a matter of urgency – whether it is with a recent or older sighting. Every piece of information is crucial to enabling us to find the baby and ensure it is OK.”
He added: “My officers will continue working tirelessly behind the scenes to piece together the family’s movements and current whereabouts.
“It could be that they are trying to blend in with homeless communities, either here in London or further afield, or they could be camping in more rural or wooded areas.
“They could be absolutely anywhere in the country. Please keep your eyes peeled, especially while you are out and about in waste ground or beauty spots, or while you’re walking the dog, and report any information, no matter how insignificant you think it is, to us.”
Her father, Napier Marten, urged his daughter to contact police so she and her baby, whose sex is not known, could receive medical attention.
In an appeal, he said that although he was estranged from his “darling daughter”, he was “deeply concerned” for her and would “do whatever is necessary for your safe return to us”.
Mary Anna Marten, the paternal grandmother of Ms Marten and her brothers – Maximilian, 34, and Tobias, 31 – was goddaughter to the late Queen Mother.
Their great grandfather, Capt Napier Sturt, was the third and final Baron Alington.
Their mother, Virginie De Selliers, 63, is a psychotherapist.
Mr Marten was a former page to Queen Elizabeth and heir to the family’s £115 million fortune.