Constance Marten up against family over children’s care

Marten, 36, is on trial over the death of her newborn daughter Victoria while on the run from authorities with her partner Mark Gordon, 49.

The Old Bailey has heard that four of their children had already been taken into care and they were determined to keep their fifth child.

Victoria died while they were living off grid in a tent on the South Downs in wintry conditions last year.

Court artist sketch of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon at the Old Bailey earlier in the trial (Image: Elizabeth Cook/PA))

On Thursday, Marten told jurors she was “not a disgruntled parent” but did disagree with the findings in her children’s case.

She said: “It’s abhorrent. My case might not be the same as other parents.

“The problem I had was I was not just up against social services but family members who were very influential with huge connections in high places including Parliament.

“If they said to social services ‘jump’, social services will say ‘how high’.

“They were highly embarrassed about the fact I had children with Mark and the fact they do not come from an upper class, privileged background.”

She added that the unnamed family members would go to “any lengths” to get what they wanted.

Marten was asked about lies she had told when giving birth to one of her children in hospital.

She told jurors: “I had to come up with a reason why I was in hospital without having been on an NHS database, no history of myself. That’s why I had to have the Irish Traveller background.

“I knew my family will stop at nothing because they disagree with my choices.”

She added: “I would be prepared to lie to save my children. I would throw myself in front of a bus to save my children. I would do whatever I have to do to save my children.”

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The court has heard how the defendants fled with Victoria after their car burst into flames near Bolton, Greater Manchester, last January 5.

When they were finally arrested in Brighton last February 27, they had refused to answer officers’ urgent questions about where their baby was and whether she was alive or dead.

Victoria’s remains were found by police in a Lidl bag inside a shed on a nearby allotment on March 1 2023.

The defendants, of no fixed address, deny manslaughter by gross negligence, perverting the course of justice, concealing the birth of a child, child cruelty and causing or allowing the death of a child.