Constance Marten: Who is the aristocrat who ended up in prison for killing her own baby?

Constance Marten, once a child of privilege and aristocratic grace, now faces years behind bars after being convicted of killing her own baby. Born into a life of wealth, power, and freedom, Marten is today locked behind the walls of HMP Bronzefield, her dazzling lineage overshadowed by a devastating tale of neglect, delusion, and death.

Together with her partner Mark Gordon-a convicted rapist-Marten sparked a national manhunt in early 2023, convinced that the world was against them and only they knew what was right for their newborn daughter. But this twisted sense of superiority and self-pity led to a series of disastrous decisions, culminating in the tragic death of baby Victoria after just a few days of life.

The pair, fuelled by paranoia and an unshakeable belief in their own righteousness, hid from authorities in a freezing tent on the South Downs in the depths of winter. Their actions shocked the nation and led to a two-and-a-half-year legal saga, which ended at the Old Bailey on Monday with a jury convicting both of gross negligence manslaughter.

Who is Constance Marten?

It was a dramatic fall for Marten, who once roamed the grand grounds of the Grade I listed Crichel House in Dorset, a sprawling estate where she grew up alongside her three brothers-Maximilian, Freddie, and Tobias. Her family pedigree was impeccable: her grandmother, Mary Anna Marten, was a goddaughter of the Queen Mother and a childhood friend of Princess Margaret, while her father, Napier, served as a page to Queen Elizabeth II.

Mary Marten herself was the central figure in the infamous Crichel Down affair, one of Britain's great post-war political scandals. After the government seized part of the family estate during the Second World War and failed to return it, she fought tirelessly-and successfully-for its return, a battle that even forced a minister to resign.

Marten's father Napier lived a life of opulence until, in 1996, he vanished during what he later described as a personal "awakening." Constance was just nine at the time. In his absence, he left behind luxury for a spiritual journey that included whale-watching, tree surgery, and alleged visions. He shaved his head, moved to Australia, and later spoke of crying non-stop for seven days after an emotional encounter with whales during an out-of-body experience.

Reflecting on his departure, he admitted, "I do recall having a recognition of myself that I was exhibiting some sort of courage, but of course, in many other people's minds I was exhibiting some sort of cowardice."

On returning to Britain, Napier rejected his share of the estimated £115 million family fortune, choosing instead to live in a lorry and train in craniosacral therapy. The Crichel estate was passed to his eldest son, and in 2013 the mansion-along with 400 acres-was sold for a reported £34 million to a hedge fund billionaire.

For Constance Marten, the legacy of privilege, rebellion, and eccentricity now lies in tatters. What remains is a sobering reminder that even the grandest of bloodlines offer no protection from the consequences of catastrophic choices.