Father of missing woman with newborn baby begs daughter to ‘find courage’ and call police
The father of a woman missing with her newborn child has spoken of the family’s pain as he urged her to contact police.
Napier Marten, reportedly a former page to the late Queen, said he and his family are “deeply concerned” for the welfare of Constance Marten and her baby.
Ms Marten, 35, has been missing with her partner Mark Gordon since their car broke down and caught fire near Bolton on 5 January.
The couple have since been spotted on CCTV on several occasions, and police say the couple have a substantial amount of cash, allowing them to live off-grid.
They are understood to have lived an isolated life since meeting in 2016, with then-drama student Ms Marten cutting ties with family and friends.
Gordon, 48, is a convicted sex offender who served 20 years in a US jail for rape and battery.
Upon release and deportation to the UK in 2010, he was listed on the sex offenders register.
In an appeal through The Independent, Mr Marten said while he remains estranged from his “darling daughter”, his family is willing to “do whatever is necessary for your safe return to us”.
He said the family has lived “in great concern”, knowing of Mr Gordon’s past, “for some time”.
Ms Marten with her partner Mark Gordon, who is a convicted sex offender
Mr Marten said: “Darling Constance, even though we remain estranged at the moment, I stand by, as I have always done and as the family has always done, to do whatever is necessary for your safe return to us.
“I beseech you to find a way to turn yourself and your wee one in to the police as soon as possible so you and he or she can be protected.
“Only then can a process of healing and recovery begin, however long it may take, however difficult it may be.
“I would like you to understand that the family will do all that is needed for your wellbeing.
“And I also wish you to understand you are much, much loved, whatever the circumstances.
“We are deeply concerned for your and your baby’s welfare.
“The past eight years have been beyond painful for all the family as well as your friends, as they must have been for you, and to see you so vulnerable again is testing in the extreme.”
Read more:
Where have the couple been spotted?
Missing couple spotted on CCTV in London
Mr Marten thanked the police for “all their endeavours in bringing this tragic episode to a swift and safe conclusion” as he urged his daughter to “find the courage to present yourself to the police as soon as possible”.
Ms Marten grew up in Crichel House, a Dorset estate, as part of an affluent family with links to the royals.
A CCTV image of a woman believed to be Constance Marten seen near Harwich Port in Essex
The couple have also been spotted on CCTV in east London
Last September she and Gordon began moving around the country, renting Airbnbs for brief periods.
After their car broke down near Bolton, they took a taxi from Liverpool to Essex and were next seen around Colchester on Friday 6 January and Saturday 7 January.
They then took another taxi to East Ham Station in Newham, London, where they were last seen.
Police believe they could be anywhere in the UK and are appealing to the public to come forward with any information that may help find them – including hotels or hostels where the couple may have stayed.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
Read more from Sky News:
Ten Reform councillors quit in protest
Liz Truss sends cease and desist letter to Starmer
As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports9 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway