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

At a press conference, Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford of the Metropolitan Police Service told reporters that the force believes the baby “may have been dead for some time”.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police officer said: “At this stage we have not yet been able to confirm the baby’s gender and post-mortem examination has not yet taken place.

“Despite this, based on our inquiries we’ve carried out so far, we believe sadly the baby may have been dead for some time before they were found.

“It is too early for us to provide a more specific date.

“Because we believe the death occurred during the course of a missing person investigation we have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). This is standard protocol for such circumstances.”

Flowers have been laid near where Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were arrested on Monday.

Hayley Bolton, 37, laid a bunch of flowers on the junction of Stanmer Villas and Golf Drive at the edge of the police cordon.

She told PA news agency: “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.”

Police appear to be continuing to search the allotments which were at the centre of the hunt for Constance Marten and Mark Gordon’s baby on Wednesday.

Five uniformed officers from the Metropolitan Police entered the cordoned off plots near Hollingdean skatepark in Brighton on Thursday morning while two police vans remain at the cordon entrance, the Press Association news agency reported.

A heavy police presence remains at the scene near where Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon were found and arrested on Monday.

A blue forensic tent was in place in Golf Drive, which leads to the allotments that were at the centre of the hunt for their baby on Wednesday. Police later said remains of a baby were found in the area.

Several police vans were stationed along Golf Drive, which was blocked off to the public by a cordon made up of orange triangular cones.

At around 9.30pm on Monday, a member of the public – who recognised Constance Marten and Mark Gordon from media appeals – dialled 999 after spotting the pair withdrawing cash at a convenience store in Hollingbury Place, reports Josh Payne.

Officers arrived at the scene and detained the couple six minutes later.

CCTV footage from just before they were caught appears to show Gordon limping and using a large stick to walk.

Local residents have been laying candles for Constance Marten’s baby in Brighton, the BBC has reported.

Ms Marten and her partner Mark Gordon were apprehended on the outskirts of the city on Monday night, and the remains of a baby have been discovered in nearby woodland. A post-mortem examination is yet to take place.

Here is the full statement from Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford last night:

“It is my very sad duty to update that this afternoon, police officers searching a wooded area close to where Constance Marten and Mark Gordon were arrested, discovered the remains of a baby.

“A post-mortem examination will be held in due course. A crime scene is in place and work at the location is expected to continue for some time. This is an outcome that myself and the many officers who have been part of the search, had hoped would not happen.

“I recognise the impact this news will have on the many people who have been following this story closely, and can assure them that we will do everything we possibly can to establish what has happened.

“Constance Martin and Mark Gordon remain in custody after an application for the extension of their detention for a further 36 hours was sought from Brighton Magistrates’ Court.

“It is imperative now that media and members of the public refrain from speculation and comments online that could be prejudicial to potential court proceedings. No further information about the discovery will be shared at this time.”

Police spent more than seven weeks trying to track down Constance Marten and Mark Gordon before they were apprehended on Monday night.

Here is a map of their known movements, mostly relating to the first three days after their car was discovered on the hard shoulder of the M61.