Police are holding aristocrat Constance Marten and her partner Mark Gordon in custody after arresting the paid in Brighton - but an urgent search is underway to locate their baby, who is said to have not had any medical attention since its birth in January.
The Met Police said that Constance and Mark were spotted by Sussex Police in Stanmer Villas, Brighton on Monday evening - with a member of the public coming forward with the sighting just before 9.30pm.
35-year-old Maren and Gordon, 48, have been travelling the UK via taxi after their care was found aflame on the M61 in Bolton, January 5.
Read more: Nine Gateshead women targeted by pervert who daubed vile sexual slogans on their cars and homes
The Mirror reports authorities previously believed the couple had been sleeping rough in a blue tent, and had avoided being traced by the police by moving around frequently and keeping their faces covered in CCTV images. The couple travelled from Bolton to Liverpool, then to Harwich in Essex, then to east London and then to Newhaven in Sussex, where they were seen near the ferry port on January 8.
It is unknown if their baby was full-term or has any health issues. Anyone who may be able to assist in the search for the couple's baby is urged to contact 999.
Miss Marten had been last seen on January 7 and investigating police had offered a cash reward for any information to help them find the trio.
Following their disappearance Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who is leading the investigation for the Metropolitan Police, said: “We continue to be extremely concerned about the health and wellbeing of the new-born baby, which has had no medical care and has been on the move, and possibly exposed to sub-zero temperatures, for almost a month now.
“We’re also concerned for the welfare of Constance and Mark, because our enquiries suggest that they were constantly moving and awake for at least a few days – which must be especially draining on someone who had recently given birth with no medical attention.
“Finding the baby is our top priority and we are now offering a £10,000 reward to anyone who provides information which leads to them being found."
Read next:
- Newcastle thugs who laughed after kicking and punching pub doorman on ground walk free
- Illegal immigrants jailed after Tyneside's biggest ever cannabis farm worth £1.65m found in Fenham
- Prudhoe OAP pushed to death helping friend left in 'living hell' by neighbour's kittens complaints
- Newcastle knifeman who threatened to kill family's dog and schoolboy's parents walks free
- 'Powerful' North Shields thug killed 'puny' victim with single punch when bad blood ended in tragedy