Police fear aristocrat sleeping in tent with baby and rapist partner in -8C lows
Police fear an aristocrat who vanished with her newborn baby and convicted sex offender partner, is sleeping in a tent in sub-zero temperatures.
Constance Marten, 35, and boyfriend Mark Gordon, 48, were last seen on January 7, in East London buying a tent and bedding.
The couple have since vanished along with their newborn baby, raising concerns for their safety.
Despite pleas from loved ones and family, none of them have been heard from since.
Mr Gordon served 20 years in a US jail for rape and battery for an attack on a woman aged in her early 20s when he was just 14.
Nicola Bulley's children 'cried their eyes out' after being told 'mummy's lost'
Officers have today said they fear for the baby’s safety as the family might be sleeping rough in a tent as temperatures plummet as low as -8C.
Mark Gordon, 48, was convicted for rape aged just 14 (PA)
Constance Marten, 35, was born into an aristocratic family with links to royals (PA)Neither the baby nor the mum have received any medical attention since she gave birth just weeks ago.
Police said that Mr Gordon went into an Argos store in east London earlier this month and bought camping gear, including a blue two-person tent.
The family then walked around the area for more than three hours, trying to flag down three black cabs who all refused to take them as passengers.
On January 7 the couple purchased a two person tent from Argos (Metropolitan Police / SWNS.COM)They were last seen walking along Brick Lane, towards Bethnal Green Road, at 10.01pm that night.
Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are extremely concerned that a newborn baby - less than a week old at the time on January 7 - has been exposed to sub-freezing cold temperatures if Mark and Constance have been camping out somewhere as our evidence suggests.
"No child, especially a tiny, newborn baby, should be forced to endure such dangerous, potentially life-threatening conditions.
CCTV of Mark Gordon carrying bags along a road in East London (Metropolitan Police / SWNS.COM)"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.
"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.
The missing couple have used extensive cash reserves to pay for accommodation and transport since they began moving around in September (Metropolitan Police / SWNS.COM)"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."
Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog
Ms Marten hails from a wealthy aristocratic family with connections to the Royals and had been a drama student before she met Mr Gordon in 2016.
From then onwards, it is understood that the couple became secluded and she cut off all contact with her family and friends.
Constance Marten and Mark Gordon on Brick Lane (Metropolitan Police / SWNS.COM)Then, around last September, they began living out of a number of AirBnBs as they bounced around the country on short lets.
A significant amount of cash allowed them to effectively live off the grid and avoid the attention of authorities.
But on January 5 this year, a car they were travelling in caught fire on the M61 near Bolton after crashing.
Outside Argos in Whitechapel (Metropolitan Police / SWNS.COM)It emerged that the couple lost most of their belongings in the fire, and walked away from there before taking a taxi to Liverpool first, then Harwich.
They then travelled again in a taxi to East Ham station, London, on January 7 and were there between around 10.30am and 12.30pm, before later taking another taxi to Whitechapel Road at 6.14pm, being dropped off carrying an orange plastic bag and with a pram.
Whenever they have been seen on CCTV, the couple have covered their faces extensively and taken all efforts to hide their baby.
Constance was born into one of England’s most prominent aristocratic families (Facebook)
Constance has not been seen (Facebook)But taxi drivers used by the couple in the first few days after they went missing heard noises from a baby.
Anyone who has information can call police on 020 7175 0785, or to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
