Constance Marten has been transferred to Send Prison in Surrey after serving 13 months of a 14-year sentence. She was convicted of the gross negligence manslaughter of her infant daughter, Victoria.
From Bronzefield's 'cattle market' to Send Prison's acupuncture
Constance Marten has moved from the more rigorous environment of HMP Bronzefield to the rehabilitative atmosphere of Send Prison in Surrey. according to a source cited by The Sun, the transition is a significant upgrade, describing HMP Bronzefield as being like a "cattle market" in comparison to the new facility. Send Prison is characterized as being more akin to a private clinic than a traditional correctional institution.
At Send Prison, Constance Marten now has access to a suite of wellbeing services designed to aid rehabilitation. The facility offers inmates opportunities to engage in beauty therapy, gym instruction, and gardening . Furthermore, the prison's Psychologically Informed Physical Environment unit provides specialized care, including therapy and acupuncture, to help inmates achieve peace of mind.
The 'hidden disability' and domestic violence classification
The transfer of Constance Marten was facilitated by her classification as a victim of domestic violence and the discovery of a "hidden disability." The report says that counseling sessions brought to light issues likely related to ADHD or autism. These factors, combined with the fact that Constance Marten was granted permission to appeal her sentence in August, paved the way for her move to the softer category facility.
This rehabilitative approach is consistent with the broader ethos of Send Prison, which has been praised by the HM Inspectorate for its positive learning culture. The facility has a history of housing high-profile inmates, including Mairead Philpott and Jane Andrews, focusing on meaningful extracurricular activities to reduce recidivism.
A £1.2 million manhunt and a shed in Brighton
The sentence Constance Marten is serving stems from a harrowing sequence of events involving her partner, Mark Gordon. The couple fled with baby Victoria to prevent the child from being placed in state care, an act that triggered a national manhunt costing approximately £1.2 million. The search ended in tragedy when baby Victoria was discovered dead in a disused shed in Brighton,East Sussex, found with a soiled nappy inside a Lidl bag.
While Constance Marten is now in a rehabilitative setting, the gravity of the crime remains the central point of her incarceration. She and Mark Gordon were both convicted of gross negligence manslaughter, though their paths have now diverged significantly in terms of their daily living conditions and prison placements.
Mark Gordon's Ted Bundy parallels and HMP Belmarsh
While Constance Marten accesses therapy in Surrey, Mark Gordon is serving his sentence at HMP Belmarsh in London. Mark Gordon received an extended sentence of four years beyond the base term due to his classification as a dangerous offender. His criminal history is marked by extreme violence, including a 1989 rape at knifepoint in Florida and a subsequent attack on a man with a shovel.
The brutality of Mark Gordon's past has led experts, including treatment director Franklin Nooe, to compare him to serial killers such as Ted Bundy and Christopher Wilder. Nooe described Mark Gordon as part of a small percentage of offenders who are fueled by the act of assault. To ensure safety and separation, Constance Marten is currently blocked from making contact with Mark Gordon.
Who is 'playing the system' at Send Prison?
Despite the official classification of Constance Marten as a victim,the move has created a divide among the staff at Send Prison. While some employees believe Constance Marten requires intensive therapy due to her troubled upbringing in an aristocratic household, others suspect she is "playing the system" to secure more comfortable conditions. It remains unclear if the prison administration has a formal plan to address these conflicting internal views.
Additionally, while the source mentions the "hidden disability" as a catalyst for the move, the specific medical diagnosis—whether it is autism, ADHD, or another condition—has not been officially confirmed by the prison service. The report relies on an unnamed source for these details, leaving the exact nature of Constance Marten's medical status unverified by official records.
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