Constance Marten – latest news: Court hears baby ‘Victoria’ found with pile of nappies in shed

The police said the baby of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon “may have been dead for some time”.

They have also been unable to confirm the gender.

In a statement released by the Metropolitan Police, detective superintendent Lewis Basford said it is believed the baby may have been dead for “several weeks”

Constance Marten and Mark Gordon will appear in court after the remains of a baby were found in a wooded area.

The pair have been charged by the Metropolitan Police with gross negligence manslaughter, concealing the birth of a child, and perverting the course of justice.

The charges come after police found the body of a baby on Wednesday in the Hollingbury area of Brighton, East Sussex, following a two-day search operation.

The infant is yet to be formally identified and a post-mortem examination is due to take place today.

The case of Constance Marten, the 35-year-old aristocrat makes for one of the more unusual police investigations.

The former heiress to the multi-million pound Crichel House in Dorset, became estranged from her family after she began dating Mark Gordon.

But what was life like inside the elaborate country house Marten grew up in before splitting from her family?

Thomas Kingsley reports:

Runaway couple Constance Marten and Mark Gordon have been charged with the manslaughter of their baby.

Barry Hughes, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North, said the CPS had authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge the pair after the body of the baby was found in woodland on Wednesday.

“Constance Marten, aged 35, and Mark Gordon, aged 48, have also been charged with concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice. These charges arise from their arrest on Monday as a result of a lengthy police investigation to establish their whereabouts and that of their baby.

“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Constance Marten and Mark Gordon are active and that they have the right to a fair trial.”

Well-wishers laid flowers, teddy bears and cards at the scene to pay their respects.

Hayley Bolton, 37, who laid flowers at the scene, said “When we heard the news last night it was extremely upsetting and I felt sort of overcome with emotion, so I told my family I would come and lay some flowers today just to express our sympathies.

“That baby has been acknowledged by many people throughout the country.

“Situations like this don’t happen in our community and it’s a massive shock.”

One mother-of-two, 37, who did not want to be named told PA: “Parents are concerned about what they are hearing and what is going to be said at school.

“Everyone is a bit in shock, we can’t quite believe it.”

An aristocrat’s daughter and her partner have been charged with the gross negligence manslaughter of their baby after being arrested in Brighton.

Constance Marten, 35, and her boyfriend Mark Gordon, 48, were located by officers from Sussex Police in Stanmer Villas, Brighton, on Monday night after a member of the public reported seeing them shortly before 9.30pm.

The remains of a baby were found on Wednesday after a major two-day search operation in Sussex.