Actress and martial arts instructor Zara Phythian who acted in the movie “Doctor Strange” with Benedict Cumberbatch, sexually abused a 13-year-old girl at the time, along with her husband Victor Marke.
Marke who happens to be a martial arts instructor as well as a record already of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl alongside that girl of 13-year-old of his own.
At Nottingham Crown Court, Phythian, who is 37, was jailed for eight years while her husband, 59, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being declared guilty of their deeds.
Judge Mark Watson said Marke was the “driving force behind the abuse”. Directing Phythian, the judge added, “Whilst you denied in cross-examination that you were besotted with Victor Marke, on the evidence I have heard I am in no doubt that your deviance was shaped by the influence that he had upon you from an early age.”
Marke, from Mavis Avenue, Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire, was charged with four counts of indecently assaulting a child between 2002 and 2003 which was way ahead to marry the actress. The couple was jointly charged with 14 counts of sexual activity with a child between 2005 and 2008.
The pair had refused of wrongdoing but were found guilty by jury and sentenced at the same court on Monday.
Marke was sentenced to four years for abusing the girl on his own and a further 10 years for the abuse of the second victim with Phythian, from Taurus Close, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Meanwhile his wife Zara Marke (Phythian) was jailed for eight years for her part in the abuse of the second victim.
