Major search for missing baby as aristocrat and partner arrested alone
Police have launched a major hunt for the missing child of aristocrat Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon.
The parents were arrested on suspicion of child neglect in Brighton last night after a member of the public reported seeing them shortly before 9.30pm.
Eyewitnesses told how officers swooped on Gordon and kneeled on him for up to 40 minutes, while Marten sat on the floor next to him.
The couple remain in custody and are being questioned, said the Metropolitan Police.
An urgent search operation is now underway to find their baby, who has not received any medical attention since birth in early January.
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Constance's dad, Napier Marten, said it is a huge relief that his daughter has been found, but is "very alarmed" that her baby remains missing.
Detectives hope the infant is still alive and in the care of another person, but say the risks are high after temperatures dipped to 1C overnight.
Pictures show officers collecting a pair of pink child's earmuffs and guarding a shed on an allotment this morning, as they scour a huge area between Brighton and Newhaven.
Locals are also being asked to check any outhouses, and to report anything unusual.
Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon are in police custody (PA)Mr Marten said he loves his daughter dearly but it would have been "far better" if she and Gordon had handed themselves in earlier.
He told The Independent: "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."
The search scene at Stanmer Villas in Brighton (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)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."
A large police presence remains at the scene of the arrest, where a helicopter was circling a 10-mile search zone overnight.
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A pair of pink child's earmuffs are collected by a police officer at the allotment site (PA)Two uniformed officers could be seen guarding the entrance to a street, while teams used sticks to search bushes in the nearby woodland.
At the other end of the road, a number of marked police vans from both the Met and Sussex Police were parked by allotments, where more officers appeared to be searching the area.
Allotment owner Cyril Holis said he was sleeping in his van when he witnessed the dramatic moment police arrived on the scene.
A large police presence remains at the scene of the arrest (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)He told the Mirror: "I was in the van - they got him at around 9pm. A couple of police were struggling to take him down and then a second car arrived.
“I looked out and saw them shouting and struggling.”
He added: “He was trying to fight. He didn’t look happy. They kneeled on him for like 40 minutes. I was quite scared for him actually."
Police searching an allotment site near to where the couple were arrested last night (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)The 29-year-old said Constance sat next to Gordon on the floor as he was arrested.
He claimed: “She was there and she was saying they should let him go because he has a mental health issue.
“She was arrested as well but later on. She didn’t do anything she just kneeled next to him trying to calm the situation down. It was just stressful. She was saying, 'Let him go'.”
Within half an hour, ten police cars arrived at the allotment near Stanmer Villas, Brighton.
Police officers were seen guarding a shed on an allotment this morning (Jeremy Selwyn)"There was a helicopter searching all night,” he added. “They had bags of food with them. Big blue plastic bags like they had been to the foodbank.”
Local Lee Wright, 29, claims he spotted Gordon with a suitcase walking past Stanmer Villas on Monday morning - hours before he was arrested by police.
He told the Mirror: "I saw him with a little suitcase in his hand and paperwork in his other hand. I was standing outside having a cigarette.
The search scene at Roedean Valley Allotments in Brighton (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)"He looked like someone who might have been in and out of jail.
"He was wearing a Barbour jacket, black jeans and had a suitcase - like a hard suitcase.
"It was between 10 and 12 yesterday. I told my mum this morning and looked at pictures online - it was definitely him.”
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.
The search scene in Brighton this morning (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)The pair walked along the hard shoulder of the motorway, with Constance carrying their baby in her arms.
It is unknown if the baby is full-term or has any health issues.
DSI Lewis Basford, from the Met Police, told the BBC: "As we've always said, this is about that baby. From our investigation, both Constance and the baby had no medical attention obviously pre or post birth.
"We've seen the change in the weather forecast that we've had since January 5, so my concern as always has been the exposure from the elements to the baby.
Officers are focusing on open land and outbuildings in the area (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)"As time goes on, the risk certainly does increase."
Appealing to members of the public, he said: "It is a vast area and at present we are looking in the local vicinity to where the couple were arrested last night, seeking a shelter or location for where they may have been holed up and hopefully where the baby is present.
"The arrest location was close to open land and the couple were moving towards that land. And that's why we are focusing heavily on where we are right now.
"We know that they travel, we know they travel long distances.
Marten and her partner in a CCTV image from January 7 (PA)"My plea to the members of the public here in Brighton and crossing over towards Newhaven is please be vigilant in the open land where you are, in the outbuildings that you may have on your own property, and assist us in that way by being vigilant."
He added that Sussex Police and the Met are working together to "hopefully bring the safe recovery of the baby".
No further information on the baby's whereabouts have been gained from questioning the couple while they remain in custody, said the detective.
Police drones and dogs have also been deployed, and a helicopter was seen circling a 10-mile search zone overnight (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)Officers are focusing on open land and outbuildings in the area where the parents were arrested.
DSI Basford believes the pair were living in an outdoor environment, as oppose to a caravan, which is leading the police search.
Authorities previously thought the couple had been sleeping rough in a blue tent, and had avoided being traced by the police by moving around frequently, using false names to check into B&Bs and keeping their faces covered in CCTV images.
Police say the "risks are high" after temperatures dipped to 1C overnight (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)Gordon was seen wearing dark clothing, while Marten was wearing a burgundy coat. The baby was wrapped in cloth.
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.
Metropolitan Police said an urgent search operation is underway to find the baby (UkNewsinPictures)Following the couple's disappearance, investigating police offered a £10,000 cash reward for any information to help them find the trio.
At the time, DSI Basford said around 50 officers were working on the case at any one time and more than 630 hours of CCTV had been viewed.
There had been more than 350 calls to police from the public with information following previous appeals, he added.
Police officers have been searching for the baby overnight (UKNIP)Greater Manchester Police's Head of Public Protection, Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr, previously issued a direct plea to Constance.
She said: "Constance, I know this is an exceptionally hard time for you and you are likely feeling scared but I promise that our number one priority is the same as yours – to keep your beautiful new born safe.
"As you know, it’s really important that both you and your baby are assessed by medical professionals as soon as possible so please make contact with emergency services or make your way to your nearest hospital, wherever that may be."
Sussex Police officers arrested the parents last night (UkNewsinPictures)Marten, known by friends as 'Toots', comes from a wealthy aristocratic family and was a promising drama student when she first met Mr Gordon in 2016.
She grew up in Crichel House, a Dorset estate, as part of a prominent family with links to the royals.
Her grandmother was reportedly a playmate of Princess Margaret, while her father Napier Marten was a page to Queen Elizabeth.
Marten, known by friends as 'Toots', comes from a wealthy aristocratic family (Facebook)She attended a boarding school for girls in Wiltshire, going on to graduate with a 2:1 in Arabic and Middle Eastern studies from Leeds University, according to the Sunday Times.
The then student last posted on her Instagram in 2016 - the same year that she is believed to have met her partner.
She is understood to have cut ties with her relatives and friends around the same time.
Police said that today's search was covering a large area between Brighton and Newhaven (UkNewsinPictures)She later studied an NCTJ qualification in journalism, then took up an acting course at a drama school in Essex.
Her family reportedly put their Dorset estate on the market in 2010 for £100million before it was sold to an American buyer.
Since meeting, the couple have led an isolated life, and in September, when Marten was well into her pregnancy, began moving around rental flats.
CCTV showed Gordon wearing dark clothing, while Marten was wearing a burgundy coat (Met Police)During the lengthy police search for the couple, Marten's dad issued an emotional appeal today to tell her: "You are much, much loved whatever the circumstances."
And in an appeal a week ago, Shereen Nimmo, director of midwifery for Barts Health NHS Trust, urged the couple to bring the baby in for checks.
She said: "You're putting your baby at risk by not accessing medical care, so it's really important that you come and see a midwife, doctor or another healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Anyone who may be able to assist in the search for the couple's baby is urged to contact 999 (UkNewsinPictures)"Babies need a safe, warm environment and all new mums are given information about safe sleeping for their baby to prevent sudden infant death syndrome.
"Please do the right thing for your baby and go to your nearest healthcare facility so my caring colleagues can take care of you and your baby. All we want to do is help you."
Anyone who may be able to assist in the search for the couple's baby is urged to contact 999.
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