The Story The trials of Constance Marten - the Saturday Story
Jul 18, 2025
David Brown, Chief News Correspondent for The Times, and Helen Rumbelow, a feature writer for Times 2, delve into the harrowing tale of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon. They discuss Marten's tragic fall from privilege into chaos, the chilling manhunt for the couple and their missing baby, and the courtroom dynamics that highlighted their defiance. The conversation also touches on the psychological struggles they faced, their sense of victimization, and the alarming societal implications of their story amid rising conspiracy theories.
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Constance's Evangelical Gap Year
- Constance Martin, born into aristocracy, had a gap year with the evangelical church in Nigeria.
- She was denounced and expelled as a CIA spy after being caught in the preacher's bedroom, then returned to the UK.
Mark Gordon's Troubled Past
- Mark Gordon was sentenced to 40 years for a brutal crime at age 14 and deported to the UK after serving 20 years.
- He led a shadowy life in the UK until meeting Constance Martin, a starkly different background.
False Identity and Assault
- Constance gave birth first child using a false Irish traveler identity and accent.
- Mark Gordon assaulted police officers and was jailed for the incident.