Latest from South Wales Argus
South Wales Argus
13 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Fugitive aristocrat and partner guilty over baby's death
Marten, 38, and Mark Gordon, 51, went on the run with daughter Victoria in early 2023 after their four other children were taken into care. Police had launched a nationwide hunt after their car burst into flames on the motorway near Bolton, Greater Manchester. The couple travelled across England and went off grid sleeping in a tent on the South Downs where baby Victoria died. The moment Mark Gordon was arrested in the street in Brighton (Met Police/PA) After seven weeks on the run, the defendants were arrested in Brighton, East Sussex. Following a desperate search, police found their baby dead amid rubbish inside a Lidl bag in a disused shed nearby. Victoria's remains were too badly decomposed to establish the cause of death. The prosecution said she died from hypothermia in the cold and damp conditions inside the flimsy tent or was smothered. The defendants claimed their daughter's death was a tragic accident after Marten fell asleep on her. A jury in their retrial found Marten and Gordon unanimously guilty of manslaughter on Monday after 14 hours and 32 minutes of deliberations. In their first trial last year, the defendants were convicted of perverting the course of justice, concealing the birth of a child and child cruelty. Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford of Scotland Yard, said: 'Today, the justice we have long fought for has been finally been served for baby Victoria. CCTV footage of Constance Marten, Mark Gordon and baby Victoria in a German doner kebab shop in East Ham, London, on January 7 2023 (Met Police/PA) 'The selfish actions of Mark Gordon and Constance Marten resulted in the death of a newborn baby who should have had the rest of her life ahead of her.' The senior officer said Victoria's death was 'completely avoidable' as the defendant had plenty of opportunities to 'do the right thing' and ask for help. In light of the conviction, the family court decision to take Marten's four other children into care was 'shown to be right', he said. Samantha Yelland, senior Crown prosecutor for CPS London, told the PA news agency: 'I feel that justice has been done. 'It's been a long road, it's been a lot of work but, you know, no work is too much when anyone's died, but particularly a young child who wasn't able to stick up for herself or fight for herself.' Jurors in the defendant's first trial in 2024 were not told about Gordon's violent past, which was only partly revealed in their second trial. In 1989, Gordon, then aged 14, held a woman against her will in Florida for more than four hours and raped her while armed with a 'knife and hedge clippers'. Within a month, he entered another property and carried out another offence involving aggravated battery. Gordon, who moved with his mother from Birmingham to the US at the age of 12, was sentenced to 40 years in jail and was released after 22 years. Jurors in the retrial appeared visibly shaken by the revelations even though Marten had accidentally blurted out Gordon's rape conviction while giving evidence. Items found with the body of baby Victoria inside a Lidl bag, including the pink sheet she was wrapped in and her teddy bear print babygrow (Met Police/PA) In 2017, Gordon was convicted of assaulting two female police officers at a a maternity unit in Wales where Marten gave birth to their first child under a fake identity. Jurors were not told that Gordon was also suspected of a incident of domestic violence in 2019 which left Marten with a shattered spleen. Gordon had refused to allow paramedics into their London flat to treat her even though she was 14 weeks pregnant, it emerged during legal argument. She spent eight days in hospital then put her life and that of her unborn child at risk by attempting to discharge herself, with Gordon's support, it was alleged. It was following that incident that the family court decided the couple's other children should be taken into care. When Marten became pregnant for a fifth time, she kept it secret, giving birth in a hired holiday cottage on Christmas Eve 2022. The defendants' attempts to keep baby Victoria under wraps prompted the major police alert after a placenta was found inside their abandoned car near Bolton on January 5 2023. The defendants fled the scene with Victoria, leaving behind the family cat named Sasha in a box, around £2,000 in cash, 34 'burner' phones and other belongings. They spent hundreds of pounds on taxis to take them from the North West, to Harwich in Essex, East Ham in London and on to Newhaven. Victoria was only briefly glimpsed on CCTV footage in London wearing the same teddybear motif babygrow later recovered with her body inside the Lidl bag. The prosecution asserted that Victoria was carried under Marten's jacket or in a Lidl bag without adequate clothing, warmth or shelter. After she died, the defendants were caught on CCTV scavenging in bins for food even though Marten had received thousands of pounds from a trust fund and had £19,000 in the bank. The defendants were arrested after buying supplies in Brighton on February 27 2023, and refused to say where the baby was, with Gordon declaring: 'What's the big deal?' More than a thousand Metropolitan Police officers searched for Victoria for two days before she was discovered in an allotment shed wrapped in a pink sheet and hidden beneath dirt and rubbish in the Lidl bag. In a police interview, Marten said: 'I had her in my jacket and I hadn't slept properly in quite a few days and erm, I fell asleep holding her sitting up and she, when I woke up, she wasn't alive.' Jurors were told Marten had been warned by social workers about the risk of falling asleep with a baby lying on her and that a tent was unsuitable. Both defendants gave evidence in their retrial but each cut short their testimony, with Marten describing the prosecution as 'heartless' and 'diabolical'. Judge Mark Lucraft KC ordered pre-sentence reports and remanded the defendants into custody to be sentenced on September 15.
South Wales Argus
13 minutes ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
MPs slam ‘disgraceful' rollback of Northern Ireland veterans legislation
A debate over withdrawing the legal protections established by the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act, which shield veterans from being prosecuted for historic actions between 1969 and 2007 during Operation Banner, took place at Westminster Hall on Monday. MPs critical of the move suggested it would open a 'witch-hunt' against veterans who served to protect citizens across communities in Northern Ireland. The debate followed a public petition against repealing the legislation which attracted more than 170,000 signatures. Conservative MP John Lamont, who opened the parliamentary session, said the rollback could lead to 'two-tier' payouts for figures such as former Republican politician Gerry Adams. Mr Lamont said: '[The change] could result in a six-figure payout for Mr Adams, simply because his interim custody order was not considered by the secretary of state, but rather a junior minister. 'That is simply outrageous. 'We have seen a lot of examples of two-tier justice since the Labour government came to power, but this may simply be the worst of all. 'Is the Government really contemplating creating a system to drag northern Irish veterans through the courts, whilst potentially paying millions to terrorists? 'We should also be clear about the differences between the actions of soldiers and terrorists. When terrorists get up in the morning, they go out with murderous intent to use violence to attack our democracy. Soldiers do not. 'The Legacy Act is by no means perfect, but it is better than the disgraceful spectacle of veterans being dragged through the courts. 'Doing so is not sustainable – legally or morally.' (left to right) Rohit Pathak, Denise Walker, 58, former catering corps veteran from Glasgow, and Anthony Johnson, 67, veteran and protester, participate in a march outside Parliament (Lily Shangaher/PA) Others echoed Mr Lamont's comments, highlighting the implications the rollback could have on the armed forces in future conflicts. Conservative MP Sir David Davis argued the change would mean that British soldiers would be abandoned by the country they served. He said: 'Getting this right is not just a matter of historical justice. 'The legal witch-hunt won't end in Northern Ireland. 'It'll cast a shadow over every future conflict that our armed forces engage in, and undermine their abilities to defend us.' He added: 'Those who freely talk about human rights would do well to remember that our rights, our law, our democracy and our nation were protected by the very veterans that are at risk today. 'So let us all make one promise, that no British soldier will ever again be abandoned by the nation they have so bravely protected.' Other MPs voiced their support in favour of the Government's proposals, arguing that the current act is not fit for purpose. Labour MP Louise Jones suggested that the lack of support for the legislation among victims, politicians across parties in Northern Ireland, and veterans themselves meant it ought to be repealed. She said: 'This Legacy Act has been found to be unlawful. It gives immunity to terrorists, and it denies justice to the families of the 200 service personnel that were murdered by terrorists during the Troubles. 'It is not supported in its current form by victims, it's not supported by a Northern Irish party, and many veterans are troubled by it. It must go and be replaced, and I call on the minister to outline how we can protect veterans from malicious lawfare of any conflict.' 'We have a huge duty here in Westminster to work with those communities not against them, and I hope everyone here will reflect on that important undertaking.' Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn pointed to statistics from the Centre for Military Justice that show that only one British soldier has been convicted since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. He suggested that this was the case over the 27 years, despite immunity for British military personnel not being enshrined in law for the majority of this time. Catriona Wallace, a veteran and protester (Lily Shanagher/AP) Mr Benn also argued that the changes would allow incomplete investigations into the deaths of soldiers to reopen. He said: 'Legacy is hard. This is the unfinished business of the Good Friday agreement. 'And that is why we need to listen to the many families who lost loved ones, including the families of British service personnel, who served so bravely. 'There are more than 200 families of UK military personnel who are still searching for answers 30, 40, 50 years ago about the murder of their loved ones. 'The Police Service of Northern Ireland recently confirmed they had 202 live investigations into Troubles-related killings of members of our armed forces, and a further 23 into the killings of veterans. 'Each and every one of those investigations was forced to close by the Legacy Act, and we will bring forward legislation to deal with that. 'The other challenge is the lack of confidence in the act on the part of communities in Northern Ireland, which we are going to seek to reform. 'We owe it to all these families.'
South Wales Argus
13 minutes ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Omagh inquiry seeks secret 15-year-old transcript from Commons archive
Omagh Bombing Inquiry solicitor Tim Suter has asked for information about an allegation 'that police investigators into previous attacks in Moira, Portadown, Banbridge and Lisburn did not have access to intelligence materials which may have reasonably enabled them to disrupt the activities of dissident republican terrorists' in the Co Tyrone town. The allegation is thought to have been made during a private session of the Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee almost 16 years ago, on November 11 2009. Conservative MP Simon Hoare warned there was 'no wriggle room' in Parliament's rules to hand over the information to the inquiry without MPs' say-so, because it previously went 'unreported'. Commons committees can refrain from reporting evidence in certain circumstances, for example, if it contains information which is prejudicial to the public interest. MPs tasked the Commons Privileges Committee with looking at the 2009 transcript. This seven-member group has until October 30 to decide whether to report and publish the evidence, which was originally given to the House by former senior police officer Norman Baxter. 'It is very hard for the House to decide whether or not to release evidence it has not seen and cannot see before the decision is made,' Mr Hoare warned. 'It is particularly difficult in this case, as that evidence may contain sensitive information.' The North Dorset MP added that the Privileges Committee 'might simply decide to publish it'. Chairman of the Omagh Bombing Inquiry Lord Turnbull (PA) But the agreed motion will give the committee power to make an alternative recommendation 'on the desirability or otherwise of the release of the evidence to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry'. Privileges Committee chairman Alberto Costa, the Conservative MP for South Leicestershire, told MPs that his organisation 'stands ready to deal with this matter'. The independent inquiry chaired by Lord Turnbull will consider whether the Omagh bombing 'could reasonably have been prevented by UK state authorities'. The dissident republican bomb exploded in the Co Tyrone town on August 15 1998, killing 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins. Mr Hoare agreed with DUP MP for Strangford Jim Shannon, who was born in Omagh, after he told the Commons that 'justice' should be at the 'forefront of all right honourable and honourable members' minds during this process'.
South Wales Argus
38 minutes ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
England call up Jamie Blamire and Gabriel Oghre for US tour
The second Test against Argentina in San Juan hit their hooking stocks hard, with Jamie George called up by the British & Irish Lions and Theo Dan suffering a knee injury that has ruled him out of the rest of the tour. George had hoped to play in the Test after leading a young squad on this tour, but was asked to withdraw from the game by Lions head coach Andy Farrell to ensure he did not pick up and injury or a suspension before flying out to Brisbane. Meanwhile, Dan, who stepped into the starting line-up as a result, suffered an injury to his knee in the second half of the encounter and was forced off. He underwent a scan to determine the nature of the damage. He had previously spent 15 months on the sidelines with an injury to the same knee prior to breaking onto the international scene. As a result of these absences, Steve Borthwick has been forced into calling up two hookers for the final match in the States. Steve Borthwick has made two changes to his squad following Jamie George's @lionsofficial call-up and the injury sustained by Theo Dan. Welcome to the squad, Gabriel and Jamie! 🤝 — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 14, 2025 Curtis Langdon, the Northampton Saints hooker, came off the bench in the 22-17 win over Los Pumas, and would appear to be in pole position to start against the Eagles. Meanwhile, Bristol Bears hooker Oghre and Leicester Tigers No.2 Blamire were on standby for the tour and will now fly out to join the rest of the squad. That could see Oghre earn his first cap, having toured with England in New Zealand last summer without making an appearance. He did feature for England A last year as they beat Australia A, and was part of the Bears team that reached the Gallagher Premiership play-offs this season. Blamire, meanwhile, has seven caps to his name, having made his debut back in 2021 against the USA. He came off the bench to score a try in that encounter before scoring a hat-trick a week later against Canada, only the second England men's hooker to achieve the feat after George had done so in 2020. Blamire, who had spent his entire career at Newcastle Falcons before joining Leicester Tigers this summer, has a remarkable try-scoring record for his country, racking up six tries in his seven caps to date. Borthwick could have looked at some younger alternatives in Sale Sharks' new signing Nathan Jibulu and England Under-20s Kepu Tuipulotu, who is set to captain them at the World Rugby Under-20s Championship against Wales in Italy, while Tom Dunn, Jack Singleton and Jack Walker have all won caps in the past. England will look to complete a perfect record on their tour of the Americas by beating the USA in Washington DC next Saturday. Purchase your tickets to the Autumn Nations Series at Allianz Stadium Purchase your tickets to the Autumn Nations Series at Allianz Stadium
South Wales Argus
39 minutes ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Jack van Poortvliet: Patient England earned their reward
The Leicester Tigers scrum-half came off the bench to score a 79th-minute try at the Estadio San Juan Bicentenario to clinch a 22-17 win over Los Pumas. It came after a second half that had been played almost exclusively in Argentinian territory, with Van Poortvliet explaining how the team did not panic, even as they let chance after chance go begging. In the end though, a muscular break from Guy Pepper, in only his second cap, ended with Van Poortvliet collecting an offloading and racing over for the match-winner. He said: 'There was a lot of frustration that we couldn't score. I think the whole 25 minutes I was on it was pretty much in their half. And we were just not quite getting there. We'd have a half break and not be able to finish it off. We knew we were doing the right things but we just couldn't get that last bit. 'We just said, 'be patient, it'll come. Keep doing the basics, keep getting the ruck right, because they kept competing at the ruck; keep getting the edge right and things like that to try and expose them'. We got there eventually. We knew if we kept banging the door we'd get a chance and luckily we had one in the end.' It completes an impressive fortnight in Argentina for England, having won the first Test in La Plata 35-12 last Saturday. All that was achieved without 13 players away on Lions duty, while Jamie George was a late withdrawal for this encounter after he was called up as a replacement for Luke Cowan-Dickie, with the England co-captain watching from the stands. For Van Poortvliet, who made his England debut on a summer tour of Australia three years ago, the way this inexperienced team has stepped up can only bode well for the future. He added: 'I love touring with England. I think probably the best experience before this tour is probably my first tour in the Australia tour I had with England. 'To come here and do that and to have a moment like that at the end was really special. I've loved these last three weeks. They've been absolutely brilliant. To cap it off with another win was amazing. 'I just think it shows the talent and depth that there is in this country. You've seen the quality of the under-20s teams there's been in the last few years. They're now all coming through. Tours like these are brilliant for people to take their opportunity and keep piling on pressure. 'It's amazing to see the boys away with Lions doing so well, but they go away and it's your opportunity to try and put your hand up. So many people have done that. It only increases competition for when everyone's back in the autumn. It shows what a good place English rugby is in at the minute. 'Coming off the back of a strong end to the Six Nations and then to build to this with a new group and to keep pushing forward is promising. It shows the depth we have in this country. 'We think we've got so much further to go. We're excited where we are right now, but we can take it so much further and we know that as a group. We're excited to try and do that.' Purchase your tickets to the Autumn Nations Series at Allianz Stadium
