The detective who led the search for baby Victoria has revealed he "winced" when he first saw CCTV footage of Constance Marten handling her newborn daughter "like a rag doll". Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford from Scotland Yard described his emotional reaction to the harrowing investigation that gripped the nation.
The first confirmed sighting of baby Victoria came from a kebab shop in East Ham, London, two days after Marten and her partner Mark Gordon ditched their burning car near Bolton more than 200 miles away. Mr Basford told PA news agency the footage showed a disturbing lack of care for the vulnerable infant.
CCTV footage reveals shocking treatment
"That's the first image we know baby Victoria is there and she's alive," Mr Basford said. "But then to see the way they handled her, not as a precious little being that's only days old, I hate to say it, almost as a rag doll-type approach picking her up."
The detective, himself a father, contrasted this with his own experience of holding a newborn. "I remember picking up my little girl, when you first do it, you're scared to death and there was none of that," he said.
Baby kept hidden during weeks on run
Throughout their time on the run, Victoria was kept largely concealed beneath her mother's jacket or carried in a Lidl bag for life, which Marten denied using. The couple's desperate attempts to evade police would ultimately prove fatal for their daughter.
On 1st March 2023, two Metropolitan Police officers made the devastating discovery of Victoria's badly decomposed body inside the Lidl bag filled with rubbish on an allotment in Brighton. The moment marked the tragic end to a nationwide search that had captivated public attention.
Detective describes 'sucker punch' moment
Mr Basford described the profound impact of finding Victoria's remains. "Whilst we always prepare for possible outcomes, it's not 'til it happens, you really get the sucker punch in and it really kind of hits home," he said.
The detective was unequivocal about responsibility for Victoria's death. "The actions of Mark and Constance are the reason that Victoria is not here today," he stated, adding that the couple had made a deliberate decision to "discard her in a bag covered with rubbish, litter, mud, alcohol cans."
Investigation began after car fire discovery
Scotland Yard became involved shortly after Greater Manchester Police launched the initial missing person inquiry on 5th January 2023. The discovery of a placenta in the couple's burnt-out car raised immediate concerns, particularly given the "clear indications" of domestic violence that had led to their four older children being taken into care.
Mr Basford said the Met had "extensive background and interaction" with Marten and Gordon from their previous time living in London. However, tracing people on the move nationally opened up "huge lines of inquiry", complicated by the couple's avoidance of electronic devices or financial transactions.
Massive search operation deployed
When Scotland Yard took over the investigation on 12th January 2023, Mr Basford always felt they were "playing catch-up". By then, Marten and Gordon had already left London to live in a tent on the South Downs where Victoria would die.
More than 100 Metropolitan Police officers were involved in the initial investigation stage, with over 1,000 deployed in the search for baby Victoria after the defendants were arrested. The operation received "fantastic" support from other forces and extensive media coverage.
Public tip leads to arrests
A member of the public recognised Marten and Gordon from the high-profile appeal and called 999, leading to their arrests in Brighton on 27th February 2023. However, the baby was not with them, triggering an intensive search of the surrounding area.
Mr Basford described experiencing a "few emotional rollercoasters" in those final days. The first came with news of the arrests but no baby, forcing officers to "play the percentages" about possible outcomes whilst deploying hundreds of officers who still hoped Victoria could be alive.
Moment of devastating discovery
The second emotional blow came just after 2.30pm on 1st March 2023. Mr Basford had just told media there would be no more updates that day when he received the call confirming a baby's body had been found.
"In the hours after that, to understand the conditions she was left in, you're a father yourself, it really hits home," he said. The detective was particularly struck by the eerie silence as he prepared to brief national media about the discovery.
Other children 'lucky' to escape
Considering how Victoria was abandoned, Mr Basford suggested the defendants' four other children were "lucky" to have been taken into foster care. He dismissed the couple's claims of being a loving family, saying their actions showed "that is not a dignified way to look after and put to rest a baby."
The detective accused Marten and Gordon of "living in their own world of lies, and beliefs" with no acceptance of societal standards. "Everyone is wrong, apart from them," he said, noting their refusal to reveal Victoria's location even when given the opportunity during initial interviews.
Parents' 'selfish actions' blamed for death
Even though Victoria's body was too decomposed to establish a cause of death, Mr Basford said it was ultimately down to her parents' "selfish actions". The couple's behaviour throughout the investigation and court proceedings demonstrated their detachment from reality, he argued.
After a six-month Old Bailey retrial, Marten and Gordon were found guilty of manslaughter on Monday. The verdict brought some measure of justice for baby Victoria, whose short life was cut tragically short by those who should have protected her most.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
