The father of Constance Marten has spoken of his 'immense relief' after his daughter was found - but said it is 'very alarming' that her baby remains missing.
Constance, 35, and her partner Mark Gordon went missing after their car was found burning on the M61 in Bolton on January 5. The pair then spent weeks travelling around the UK and sleeping rough with their newborn baby, despite calls from the police and medical professionals to take the infant to see a doctor.
Metropolitan Police confirmed this morning that the pair had been arrested for child neglect by officers in Stanmer Villas, Brighton, on Monday night after a member of the public reported seeing them shortly before 9.30pm. Their baby has not yet been found and an urgent search to find them is ongoing.
READ MORE: Constance Marten and Mark Gordon arrested but baby is missing as police launch urgent search
Following her arrest, Constance's father Napier Marten told the Independent of his relief but said it would have been 'far better' if she and her partner had handed themselves in earlier. Mr Napier told the newspaper: “It is an immense relief to know my beloved daughter Constance has been found, tempered by the very alarming news her baby has yet to be found.
“For whatever reasons she and her partner went on the run, the consequences of their actions have increased many fold. It would have been far better if they had handed themselves in earlier."
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He thanked the member of the public who tipped off police about the couple’s whereabouts, as well as Metropolitan police officers for their 'dogged investigation'. Mr Marten added: "When the time comes, I am longing to see Constance to reassure her that, whatever the weather, I love her dearly and will support her as best I can through the difficult weeks and months here on in."
Earlier, senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford told BBC Breakfast that officers from the Metropolitan and Sussex police forces are searching a huge area of land to try and find the baby. Mr Basford said: "It is a vast area and at present we are looking in the local vicinity to where the couple were arrested last night, seeking a shelter or location for where they may have been holed up and hopefully where the baby is present.
"The arrest location was close to open land and the couple were moving towards that land. And that’s why we are focusing heavily on where we are right now. We know that they travel, we know they travel long distances.
"My plea to the members of the public here in Brighton and crossing over towards Newhaven is please be vigilant in the open land where you are, in the outbuildings that you may have on your own property, and assist us in that way by being vigilant."
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