Constance Marten's partner assaulted police in maternity ward

Times

27-05-2025

The boyfriend of an aristocrat on trial over the death of their fifth baby was convicted of assaulting two female police officers hours after the birth of their first child, the Old Bailey was told.
Mark Gordon, 50, and Constance Marten, 38, deny the gross negligence manslaughter of baby Victoria while on the run from police and living in a tent in 2023.
Six years earlier police were called by maternity staff at a hospital in Wales who were concerned about the identity of the new parents, the court was told.
When she arrived at the hospital in labour Marten used the name Isabella O'Brien, spoke with a fake Irish accent, and claimed to be from the travelling community and living in a caravan. She was accompanied by Gordon, using the name James Amer, who she said was a friend and not the father.
Gordon, who is representing himself after his lawyers withdrew from the case, objected to evidence being given about the assaults. 'It is a statement I do not agree with,' he said. 'It is not real evidence. It is perspective.'
The jury was read a 'memorandum of conviction' from a magistrates' court that recorded Gordon pleading guilty to assaulting two police officers in the execution of their duties.
Detective Sergeant Delma Jones told the court she was called with PC Sian Beynon to the postnatal ward of the hospital, which cannot be identified for legal reasons.
Jones said they took Gordon to a side room where he was asked several times for his name and date of birth. He said he was James Amer, born on April 31, 1987.
When the officer pointed out that April has only 30 days, Gordon started 'rocking back and forward in the chair and muttering that he was confused'. He then 'started pacing back and forward and clenching his fists', the court was told.
'His behaviour completely changed and he clearly did not know what to do with himself,' said Jones. 'I suggested he calmed down and sat down.'
Jones said that Gordon pushed Beynon to the side before assaulting them both.
'We both had to restrain him and put our feet in front of the door to stop him opening the door as he clearly wanted to escape,' Jones said.
'Mr Gordon opened the door and freed himself from our grasp and started running up to where his partner and baby were. We took took hold of him again and at that point I fell to the floor and my shoes came off. We were telling him to calm down. We were quite concerned at what he was capable of.'
'He was trying to escape. He was continuing to walk away but we had hold of him.'
Jones said that Benyon 'deployed' her pepper spray in Gordon's face three times. The father of another newborn helped to restrain Gordon for ten minutes until other officers arrived. Gordon pleaded guilty to assault two days later.
Jones said she suffered bruising and cuts on her hands.
Gordon listened to the evidence from the dock, often with his eyes closed and shaking his head. He told the court: 'That is not an accurate reflection of what occurred.'
Jones, under questioning by Gordon, confirmed that she realised she was giving evidence under oath and denied that 'sometimes you embellish things a little bit'.
Gordon commented: 'My memory serves me a little bit differently, because I have nothing to hide … as the jury heard, I do not not mind them hearing the truth, I like the truth.'
Jones, who has been a police officer for 20 years, said later: 'I remember it very well. This was the [strangest] incident I have dealt with.'
The couple claim they went on the run to prevent Victoria being taken into care like their four other children.
When Gordon gave evidence he accused Marten's wealthy family of harassing them with private detectives because they disapproved of their relationship.
Victoria was born on Christmas Eve 2022. A nationwide hunt began after a placenta was discovered in the family's burnt-out car on January 5, 2023. The couple ended up living in a tent in the South Downs outside Newhaven, East Sussex, where Victoria died.
The trial continues.