Jump directly to the content
HUNT FOR TOT

Tearful Constance Marten yelled at police to ‘get off’ lover as he was restrained by cops who are still hunting for baby

A TEARFUL Constance Marten yelled at police to "get off" her lover Mark Gordon when he was restrained by cops.

The aristocrat and her convicted sex-offender boyfriend were discovered by cops in Brighton last night - without their newborn baby - after 54 days on the run.

Constance disappeared on January 5 - sparking a massive search by cops
7
Constance disappeared on January 5 - sparking a massive search by copsCredit: Facebook
Mark Gordon and Constance Marten have been arrested and police continue to hunt for the missing child
7
Mark Gordon and Constance Marten have been arrested and police continue to hunt for the missing childCredit: Nicholas Razzell
Police search an allotment as fears for the infant grow
7
Police search an allotment as fears for the infant growCredit: Ray Collins
A member of the public reported seeing the couple in Stanmer Villas, Brighton, shortly before 9.30pm on Monday
7
A member of the public reported seeing the couple in Stanmer Villas, Brighton, shortly before 9.30pm on MondayCredit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures
Police officers find a sponge soaked in a red liquid
7
Police officers find a sponge soaked in a red liquidCredit: Story Picture Agency
A pair of child's ear muffs have also been found in the hunt for the missing baby
7
A pair of child's ear muffs have also been found in the hunt for the missing baby
7

The couple were located - without their one month old baby - on a residential street shortly before 9.30pm and an urgent search for the tot continues in the area.

Locals have now described in detail the moment Gordon was arrested - along with Marten slightly further down the road - on suspicion of child neglect.

The couple were last night spotted near a convenience store by a member of the public who then rang 999.

One witness told The Sun: “The call came in from a member of the public who spotted them and thought they recognised the media appeals.

MORE ON CONSTANCE

“He was apparently walking in front of her, which he has been in the other photos where they’ve been spotted.

“They just looked odd at that time of night.

“Originally it was one police car who spotted them, then when they realised who it was the rest of them all very quickly turned up.

“He was restrained for a while on the floor and to begin with was very animated. He was screaming and shouting.

“She was yelling at them to get off him. She was in tears and also got arrested a bit further down the street.”

SEARCH FOR MISSING BABY

Cops have been seen searching the woods behind Stanmer Villas where temperatures last night dropped to 1C.

The nearby Roedale Valley Allotments are now being treated as a "potential crime scene".

Residents say said police were seen photographing an oil drum used to burn rubbish and took finger prints at the plots.

A police officer was also pictured picking up a pink pair of child's ear muffs from the ground.

They were placed into an evidence bag afterwards.

Other photos show cops discovering a large yellow car sponge soaked with a red liquid.

It was found with tissues soaked in he same red liquid and a blue pair of medical gloves.

Two officers placed the sponge, gloves and tissues into an evidence bag - but it is not known if the items are relevant to the missing newborn.

Police say they are still hoping the baby is alive and have appealed to anybody who might be looking after the child to come forward.

But Constance and Gordon have so far refused to tell police the sex of their baby.


It comes as...


The couple were arrested this morning on suspicion of child neglect.

DSI Lewis Basford from the Met police said: “We can’t say at this time if it’s a boy or a girl and we are still awaiting test results from the placenta found in their car on the M61.

“At the moment, we are still in the position where they have been arrested on suspicion of child neglect and there is a search for the baby.

“We are looking at open land, outbuildings where they may have placed the baby while they were in the local area before we arrested them.

“There’s nothing to say they were in the caravan, we still think they were living in the outdoor environment and the that is leading us, and the arrest location, to the outdoor search.

“I think, we’ve got to keep the hope that maybe they have allowed somebody else to care for the baby who thinks they are doing some good on behalf of the couple but as we know, as the temperature drops and the longer the baby goes without parents the risks are high.”

'CHECK YOUR PROPERTY'

And cops are asking locals to check their own properties.

DSI Bashford continued: “We are asking the public to remain vigilant in the local areas as they go about their business but also to look at the premises that they own - any outbuildings and their own property.

“Please take five minutes to take a look at those and assist us in the search for the baby.”

Marten and Gordon were reported missing after their car broke down near Bolton, Greater Manchester, on January 5.

It's believed before they disappeared, Marten withdrew £15,000 of cash and the pair bought burner phones with multiple sim cards.

The pair ditched their burning car and a nationwide hunt for the three of them began.

They are believed to have spent time sleeping rough and travelling the country using cabs after being spotted buying camping equipment from an East Argos on January 7.

Concerns grew for the missing aristocrat, 35, and her baby, as temperatures across the country plummeted.

Gordon, 48, served 20 years in a US prison for rape and battery at age 14 before he was deported to Britain in 2010.

Before they were found, the pair were last seen with their baby in Newhaven, East Sussex, on January 9.

CCTV captured images of the hooded pair dumping their child's pram in the port town.

Cops previously said the new mum had given birth in her car days before the pair fled.

A Met Police spokesman said: "Shortly before 9.30pm on Monday, a member of the public reported a sighting of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon in Stanmer Villas, Brighton.

"Officers from Sussex Police attended the location and the pair were arrested. They remain in custody.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

"The baby is still missing and an urgent search operation is taking place in the area.

"Anyone with information that could assist the search is asked to call 999."

Topics