By Emily Pennink

Copyright standard

The mother of aristocrat Constance Marten pleaded for her daughter’s “deep sense of fairness” to be taken into account before she was jailed over the death of her baby daughter.

Virginie de Selliers sat in the well of the court at the Old Bailey on Monday as Marten and her convicted rapist partner Mark Gordon were sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Marten, 38, and Gordon, 51, were found guilty of the manslaughter of their newborn daughter Victoria while on the run from authorities and living in a tent on the South Downs in January 2023.

The couple were also sentenced for child cruelty, concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice after two trials spanning six months each.

As they appeared in the dock, Marten’s barrister Tom Godfrey read out a series of character references from her family and friends.

In her statement, Mrs de Selliers said she was “horrified” at how her daughter had been characterised in court and in the media, saying it did not reflect “the daughter I remember”.

She said: “What I do know is she showed sheer determination when fighting for her children and her daughter Victoria.

“It is my sincere hope that when considering her future, her courage and loyalty and deep sense of fairness are not overlooked.”

Mrs de Selliers said her daughter had been “an inquisitive and adventurous little girl” with a “feisty spirit”.

“She never shied away from standing up for what she believed. She had a determination and courage,” she said.

“At school she was loyal to her friends. He loyalty and humour made her much loved among her peers.”

Despite that, Mrs de Selliers said that her daughter also had a “fragility” in her character.

She said: “For all her brightness and bravery, she struggled with confidence and self-worth.”

Marten’s stepfather Guy de Selliers said he had known her since marrying her mother in 1998.

He described her as a “kind and generous” person with a “sense of adventure”.

He said: “I had a close relationship until she met Mark Gordon and became estranged from the family.”

Housekeeper Cecilia Robayo said Marten was a “sweet, polite, thoughtful young woman” with a generous, kind heart and caring nature and who always treated others with respect.

Friend Mikisa Robert met Marten in 2007 when the defendant was a volunteer in Uganda.

She said in her statement that Marten had shown her great “kindness and generosity” and had changed her life at a time when she was struggling in 2014.

“She had a genuine interest in the welfare of others, a selflessness in her actions. Constance made a deep and lasting impact on my life,” Ms Robert said.

During his mitigation, Mr Godfrey said Marten’s mental health was affected by the removal of her four other children into care.

She was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder at the time of Victoria’s birth and that was made worse by her death, Mr Godfrey said.

The defence barrister was twice interrupted during his submissions due to disruption in the dock.

The defendants were seen talking to each other, gesturing and passing notes as they sat flanked by dock officers.

Judge Mark Lucraft KC told them off and said their behaviour showed a “complete lack of respect” to the court.

When Marten complained that she was “entitled to a pen”, the judge said he was trying to listen to her barrister and she was being “very distracting”.

In his sentencing, Judge Lucraft told the defendants they had “displayed arrogance and lack of thought for anyone apart from yourselves”.

As well as jailing the defendants for 14 years, the judge handed Gordon an extra four years on extended licence.

Marten, who was dressed smartly with a teal scarf and handbag in the dock, made no further comment as she was sent down.