Sex offender partner of missing Constance Marten raped neighbour armed with shears as children slept next door

20 January 2023, 12:21 | Updated: 20 January 2023, 12:23

Gordon has disappeared with Ms Marten
Gordon has disappeared with Ms Marten. Picture: Metropolitan Police

By Will Taylor

The sex offender who has run off with Constance Marten, the missing daughter of an aristocrat, raped a neighbour as he was armed with garden shears.

Mark Gordon, 48, has disappeared with Ms Marten, 35, and her newborn, which is not believed to have been seen by a medical expert.

It has emerged that Gordon, who is from Birmingham but moved to the US as a teenager in 1989, is a sex offender.

In April that year, aged 14, he picked up some garden shears and a kitchen knife and then took his neighbour hostage in a four-and-a-half hour attack.

He broke into the woman's home, used her stockings as a mask and ordered her into her bedroom and told her to undress.

He then sexually assaulted and raped her.

American court documents say two young children slept next door in the home during the assault.

Ms Marten and Gordon have disappeared
Ms Marten and Gordon have disappeared. Picture: Greater Manchester Police
Mark Gordon raped his neighbour aged 14
Mark Gordon raped his neighbour aged 14. Picture: Florida Department of Law Enforcement

He then spent six weeks on the run before police caught him, and in that period he broke into a sleeping man's house and him on the head with a shovel, but left empty-handed. He admitted the crime and told officers what happened.

After being tried as an adult he was given 20 years in jail. Gordon was convicted of four counts of armed sexual battery, one of armed kidnapping and one of burglary with a deadly weapon.

Read more: Mother of missing aristocrat’s sex offender partner 'very concerned' as she claims couple 'married in secret'

It comes after his mother, Sylvia, described him as a "good boy" while Ms Marten's father begged her to get in touch with police.

Gordon's 83-year-old mother said: "I love my son. He is a good boy so I don't know what this is all about."

Mr Marten, who was a page to Queen Elizabeth, 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.

They always appear covered up on CCTV
They always appear covered up on CCTV. Picture: Metropolitan Police

"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 want you to understand that you are much much loved whatever the circumstances. We are deeply concerned for your and your baby's welfare.

Read more: Dad missing with wealthy girlfriend and baby is sex offender who spent 20 years in prison as couple go 'off-grid'

"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."

Gordon and Ms Marten are said to have lived an isolated life since they met in 2016. They have travelled the country by staying in AirBnBs.

They left their broken-down car on the M61 on January 5 and after getting a taxi to Liverpool and then travelling to Harwich in Essex.

They travelled from Colchester to Newham in London, where they were last seen on January 7.

They are always covered up when seen on CCTV and they appear to know how to evade the attention of the police.

The couple could be anywhere in the UK and officers want any hostels or hotels who accept customers that pay with cash to come forward if they believe they were the couple.

Ms Marten has cut ties with family and friends, having grown up on a Dorset estate called Crichel House. Her family has links to the royals, with her grandmother having been a playmate on top of Mr Marten’s service to the late Queen.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Rick Buckler

Rick Buckler, drummer of The Jam, dies aged 69 - former bandmate Paul Weller confirms

Kitchen knives on a magnetic bar holder on the wall

Round-edged blades safer alternatives than sharp-pointed kitchen knives, research shows - in bid to tackle knife crime

A large sinkhole has forced the closure of the high street in the Surrey village of Godstone

Homes evacuated and major incident declared after 65ft sinkhole appears in Surrey village

Lydia Mugambe

United Nations judge forced woman to work as slave after tricking her to come to UK, court hears

Craig and Lindsay Foreman

Did motorbike couple's 'happiness' survey prompt arrest on spying charges in Iran?

Abdirahman Ibrahim has been convicted of murder after driving into the back of Liam Jones

Killer driver mows down e-bike rider to 'teach him lesson' for doing wheelies

The Vatican says Pope Francis is being treated for 'bilateral pneumonia'

New scans show Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs but Vatican says he remains ‘in good spirits’

Meghan

Meghan Markle could face 'legal action' from Spanish town as her new luxury brand logo faces resemblance to coat of arms

The father of murdered schoolgirl Sara Sharif is reportedly being protected by a 'Muslim gang'

Sara Sharif's father protected by 'Muslim gang' in jail after being attacked with jagged tuna lid

Zhenhao Zou is accused of raping three women in London and 7 in China, whilst they were unconscious

PhD student 'discussed rape role-play' with alleged victim, trial hears

Exclusive
Senior Tories including Suella Braverman and Michael Gove have criticised the judge's comments

Senior Tories blast 'out of touch' judge for 'ludicrous attack' on Starmer’s migrant remarks

Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, died in an airstrike, Hamas said

Bodies of youngest Israeli hostage Kfir Bibas and his brother and mother to be handed over as family ‘in turmoil’

Lisa Smith, 43, was with a female friend when she was killed outside the Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt, Kent

Man suspected of fatally shooting wife outside pub on Valentine's Day rang friend and said 'she's dead'

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80 after 'brief illness' as tributes pour in

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned 'any appearance by armed forces under some other flag' in Ukraine would be 'completely unacceptable', in a dig at a peace plan floated by Keir Starmer.

Keir Starmer’s Ukraine peacekeeping plan ‘completely unacceptable’, Russia tells US in Saudi Arabia talks

Rita Lambourne, 58, was “fatally wounded” at her home in Bayencourt South, Bexhill

Man charged with axe murder of woman in own home