Latest news with #Peugeot208
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Constance Marten's final act of cruelty to tragic baby who lived in Lidl bag for days
A killer couple's movements around the country became increasingly frantic as they tried to avoid social services - and sadly their baby was already dead by the time they was found Constance Marten and partner Mark Gordon were this week convicted of manslaughter after their newborn baby was found dumped in a Lidl bag. The devastating discovery followed a desperate police search for the couple around the country that lasted for two agonising months. Marten, a mum-of-five, and Gordon had taken baby Victoria to live "off-grid" in an attempt to stop her being taken away by social services. The pair blew hundreds of pounds on taxis as they crisscrossed the country via places including Liverpool and London before they were eventually arrested in Brighton. Sadly, the arrest came too late for their vulnerable infant. Marten, 38, told jurors at her subsequent Old Bailey retrial that Victoria had been born on Christmas Eve 2022 and died on January 9 2023. Prosecution surmised that the newborn could have passed away at a later date, having either being smothered while co-sleeping with her parents in their tent or dying from hypothermia. Here, we look at the full timeline of Victoria's cruel life which was tragically cut short... Four children had already been taken from troubled Marten by social services when she became pregnant with her fifth in 2022. Aware that welfare workers would not consider it safe for her to keep her new child, Marten and Gordon begin to move around England to avoid the authorities. According to killer aristocrat Marten, the baby was born in secret in the bedroom of a Northumberland holiday home called Woodcutter Cottage on December 24, 2022. The prosecution disputed this claim. Four days later, the couple were already on the move, with a recovery driver taking them to a Sainsbury's supermarket after their Suzuki car broke down on the M18. The driver did not see or hear a newborn baby. Gordon, a convicted rapist back in the United States, had initially asked to be taken to Thorne in South Yorkshire. By January 4, 2023, the couple had checked into an Ibis hotel at Lymm Services in Cheshire, before moving to the AC Hotel in Manchester. Marten and Gordon, 51, would next become front page news after the car they were driving, a Peugeot 208, caught fire on the M61 motorway near Bolton, Greater Manchester. This prompted them to flee with Victoria but without their belongings - Marten's passport, "burner" phones, a placenta wrapped in a towel and even a pet cat called Sasha - meaning authorities were now on their trail. Emergency service staff who attended the car fire are said to have spotted other signs of childbirth in addition to the placenta in the back seat of the car, with indications Marten had her baby a day or two earlier than she claims. A high-risk missing persons inquiry was launched by Greater Manchester Police as a result. The fleeing couple had been picked up by a member of the public and taken to a Morrisons store in Bolton. They took a taxi to Liverpool from nearby Bolton Interchange station before heading to Harwich in Essex by cab, where they checked into a Premier Inn hotel at 3am on January 6. By that evening they had moved to another hotel in Harwich, the Fryatt Hotel, where they paid in cash. On January 7, the couple took taxis to Colchester and then moved onto East Ham, east London, where baby Victoria was seen alive for the first time on CCTV footage. Marten and Gordon bought a buggy in Argos before travelling to Whitechapel, where they ate in a restaurant in Brick Lane before dumping the pram. Heartbreakingly, it is thought the baby was transferred to a Lidl carrier bag at this point, where she spent much of the rest of her life. This was denied by the couple. The following day, on January 8, Marten and Gordon travelled to north London before paying a staggering £475 for a taxi from Hornsey to Newhaven in East Sussex. They arrived just before 5am and walked to the South Downs National Park. Marten later claimed Victoria died on January 9, after she fell asleep by holding her in a tent. On January 12, she was seen entering a Texaco petrol station, buying snacks and petrol with cash. There was no sign of the baby and Gordon was seen carrying what appeared to be an empty Lidl bag. On January 16, a tent was spotted by a dog walker in Stanmer Park Nature Reserve in the South Downs. Gordon was seen getting out of the tent, still carrying the bag for life. A month into the search, Marten's mother, Virginie de Selliers, wrote an open letter to her daughter appealing for her to return and offering her support. At the time, she had no idea that it was already too late for little Victoria. She wrote: "You have made choices in your personal adult life which have proven to be challenging, however, I respect them. I know that you want to keep your precious newborn child at all costs. "With all that you have gone through, this baby cannot be removed from you, but instead needs looking after in a kind and warm environment. "I want to help you and my grandchild. You deserve the opportunity to build a new life, establish a stable family and enjoy the same freedoms that most of us have. "Constance, I will do what I can to stand alongside you and my grandchild. You are not alone in this situation. We will support you in whatever way we can." On February 16, another dog walker saw the couple near Hollingbury Golf Course in rural Sussex. The following day, a witness claimed to see their tent set up in Coldean Lane in Brighton. On February 19, a witness saw the Marten and Gordon in Stanmer Park with their blue tent. Hauntingly, they reported seeing Marten carry a very young baby with a wobbly head and no socks, blanket or hat. The witness thought that the baby was dead. The following day, the couple were captured on CCTV scavenging through bins for food outside Hollingbury Golf Course. Arrested in Hollingbury Place in Brighton on February 27, Marten and Gordon refused to tell police where Victoria was. But on March 1, police officers searching allotments in Brighton found Victoria's decomposed body in a disused shed inside the Lidl bag containing rubbish. The following day, the couple were charged with manslaughter by gross negligence, concealing a child's birth and perverting the course of justice. A first jury was discharged after being unable to reach a verdict on the charges of manslaughter by gross negligence and causing or allowing the death of a child. But they found both Marten and Gordon guilty of child cruelty, perverting the course of justice and concealing the birth of a child. The defendants then lost an appeal against these convictions. Then on July 14 this year, a jury at the Old Bailey unanimously found the couple guilty of the manslaughter of their newborn. They will now be sentenced on September 15.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- BBC News
Clacton trike rider, 76, dies eight days after Colchester crash
A 76-year-old man has died eight days after a crash involving a car and his trike-style motorbike.A red Peugeot 208 car and the trike with a red trailer on the back were in collision on the Northern Approach Road at the junction with Wallace Road in Colchester at about 08:45 BST on 3 Police confirmed on Wednesday the man from Clacton-on-Sea died on 11 July and specialist officers are supporting his force urged anyone with information to come forward to help with inquiries. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- BBC News
Biker seriously injured in Devon A38 crash
A biker has been taken to hospital with serious injuries following a road crash in Devon, police and Cornwall Police said officers were called to the B3372, at the junction with the A38 off-slip at South Brent, after a white Peugeot 208 and a grey Harley-Davidson motorcycle crashed at about 15:30 BST on force said a road closure was put in place and a man, in his 50s, was taken to asked anybody with information to get in contact.
Auto Express
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Car Deal of the Day: Peugeot 208 GT is a sharp supermini for less than £180 a month
High-spec GT model Good to drive; more than 50mpg Just £175.53 a month Small hatchbacks don't come much more striking than the Peugeot 208. The French firm's dinkiest model is six years old now, but one look at its distinctive and upmarket styling and you wouldn't think it. It's a pretty premium-feeling car as a whole that comes with a remarkably low price tag. Advertisement - Article continues below How low? Well, how does less than £180 a month sound? Lease Car UK is offering the high-spec supermini for £175.53 right now; a £2,454.36 initial payment is required and it's a two-year agreement. Mileage is capped at 5,000 a year, but you can nudge this up to a far more flexible 8,000 per annum for less than £18 extra a month. The GT model was, until recently, the flagship 208, but a new range-topping GT Premium version joined the line-up around a month ago. Mind you, GT spec is not to be sniffed at, and its spec includes: LED headlights with Smartbeam assist, LED rear lights and Peugeot's trademark i-Cockpit with 3D display for the dials. There are also 17-inch diamond-cut alloys, a black roof, plus smart leather-effect and cloth seats with bold lime-green stitching. The 208 comes with the choice of two mild-hybrid 1.2-litre petrol options, and here you get the most powerful version. With 134bhp, performance is suitably punchy, surprisingly refined and very economical, with more than 50mpg easily achievable. It may have a GT badge on the C-pillar, but to say it's a sporty driving experience would be a bit of an exaggeration. Still, the 208's small steering wheel and responsive chassis do add up to an enjoyable drive. The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car dealers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Peugeot 208 leasing offers from leading providers on our Peugeot 208 hub page. Check out the Peugeot 208 deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here … Find a car with the experts Car Deal of the Day: MG ZS gives a big SUV feel for a miniscule £194 a month Car Deal of the Day: MG ZS gives a big SUV feel for a miniscule £194 a month The MG ZS is an easy car to like and live with. It's our Deal of the Day for 3 July New Volvo XC60 2025 facelift review: big-selling SUV gets a new lease of life New Volvo XC60 2025 facelift review: big-selling SUV gets a new lease of life This refreshed Swedish SUV focuses on familiar areas of strength to take on BMW and Audi Tesla UK sales rebound with one in four new cars now an EV Tesla UK sales rebound with one in four new cars now an EV EV sales have leapt up in the first half of 2025, although numbers remain behind Government targets
Sunday World
25-06-2025
- Sunday World
Man jailed for punching driver and smashing her partner's car gets apology from cops
Paul Dunstan told us how he knew he had not acted properly but strongly believed he should not have been the only person before Ards Magistrates Court. Ulster's angriest driver Tammy Sparkes was battered by Ulster's craziest driver who freakishly happened to be her next door neighbour! Paul Lawrence Dunstan was jailed last week for seven months – but released to appeal – for ramming Stephen Eillotts car through a fence and repeatedly punching Tommy Sparkes in the face in April last year Lawrence 43-year-old, who ironically runs a car body repair business, was plastered when he got into his van and started repeatedly ramming Stephen Elliott's Peugeot 208 car – forcing it back over 30 yards through a corrugated iron fence and into the back garden of another house Tammy Sparkes with her partner Stephen Elliott speaking to reporter Steven Moore A man jailed for repeatedly punching 'Ulster's angriest driver' and ramming her partner's car through a fence got an apology from the police this week. As revealed by the Sunday World last week, Bangor man Paul Dunstan is only out on bail as he appeals his conviction and seven-month jail sentence for his part in the shocking incident in April last year. The 43-year-old of Drumglass Avenue went berserk after someone slashed the tyres of his van and scraped the side of the £40,000 vehicle. Footage was shown to the judge at Ards Magistrates Court which showed Dunstan – who ironically runs a car body repair business – repeatedly ramming Stephen Elliott's Peugeot 208 car, forcing it back over 30 yards through a corrugated iron fence and into the back garden of another house. Dunstan is seen in an altercation seconds later with neighbour Tammy Sparkes who went over to the van to remonstrate with him. During the tussle he's seen swinging and connecting with several punches on Sparkes, who has a string of road rage incidents against her name – some of which saw her physically attack other drivers and even a cop. Tammy Sparkes Last week as he launched his appeal at Downpatrick County Court, Paul Dunstan told us how he knew he had not acted properly but strongly believed he should not have been the only person before Ards Magistrates Court. Video footage of the whole 14-minute incident also showed Dunstan crumpling to the ground after he is repeatedly punched by Sparkes' partner Elliott, who told the court he was acting in self-defence and to protect his partner. Dunstan says it also shows him being attacked by both Elliott and Sparkes long after he had been knocked unconscious and was no longer any kind of threat. But he says what was even more shocking in the video footage is how several minutes after he has been knocked to the pavement – where he lies for several minutes – an unidentified man appears from a garden and kicks him full on in the head. The Sunday World asked the PSNI what investigation they carried out into that incident and whether they ever arrested anyone for the cowardly kick to Paul's head. They told us: 'As court proceedings are ongoing, it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time.' But Paul says a senior police officer also contacted him to apologise for not following up on his complaint about that incident. Paul Dunstan started repeatedly rammed Stephen Elliott's Peugeot 208 car. 'I got a call from a police officer on Wednesday night apologising to me and saying there had been a breakdown in communication,' said Dunstan yesterday. 'I found it hard to believe that it was a breakdown in communication because I was contacting them regularly to ask what was happening with my complaint about that night. 'I was assaulted repeatedly while I was unconscious but the police chose to focus on what I did wrong that night and only showed the judge a section of the video that showed me doing wrong. 'I was interviewed by police last June – two months afterwards – and after they watched the video they told me I was a victim of a serious assault but I heard nothing back. 'Instead I was charged and convicted of assault. After I was convicted in April I went straight to police station to ask about my assault claim but there was nobody available. 'A sergeant arrived later that night at my house with two other officers with three bodycams and viewed the footage with me and said they'd email the investigating officers sergeant. Paul Dunstan. News in 90 Seconds - June 24th 'I was contacted the next morning and sent a link to forward them the evidence once again – and I never heard a thing back until the other night. 'Sorry doesn't cut it – I'll be taking this to the Police Ombudsman now.' Paul has vowed to clear his name and said he had been discriminated against by the PSNI. 'I don't have a great relationship with the PSNI over the years but the video footage doesn't lie and the police have made a judgment because of that that they would rather just go for the easy prosecution of me than to look at the whole incident. 'They only showed the judge a blurry and shortened version of the video footage. With a new legal team I'm hoping I can get a judge to see the whole video footage.' Tammy Sparkes was dubbed the country's angriest driver earlier this year when she appeared in court to face her THIRD shocking road rage attack – none of which had anything to do with Dunstan. Those hat-trick of incidents saw the 29-year-old mum tear clumps of hair from a terrified woman, punch a police officer, repeatedly kick a car causing almost £2,000 worth of damage and grab a neighbour by the hair while driving her car – dragging the woman along. But last month she gave evidence as the victim of an attack by Paul who she lived next door to for three years in Loverock Close in Bangor. 'Look, I know what I did was very wrong,' said Dunstan on the steps of court last week. 'I shouldn't have rammed the car like that but I was under major stress at the time because both my parents had been in and out of hospital and I needed the van for work and to go to hospital.
