By Doctor Strange actress jailed for child sex offences
An actress who appeared in Doctor Strange has been jailed for child sex offences.
Zara Phythian, who appeared in Doctor Strange alongside Benedict Cumberbatch, sexually abused a 13-year-old girl with her husband, the BBC reported.
Pythian and her martial arts instructor husband, Victor Marke were both sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court.
Marke had also abused a 15-year-old girl by himself.
The 38-year-old actress was jailed for a total of eight years. Her husband, 59, was jailed for 14 years.
Judge Mark Watson stated Marke was the “driving force” behind the deplorable abuse.
“Most people have held, and continue to hold you in high esteem. That’s due to the positive impact of your work [as martial arts instructors]”, Judge Watson said.
“Whilst that may help in mitigation, that is also why you were able to groom and corrupt the victims in this case and why you got away abusing them for so long”, he added.
Phythian enjoyed a successful career as an actress, as a stuntwoman, and in martial arts after she met Marke when he was her martial arts instructor.
Marke was charged with four counts of indecently assaulting a child between 2002 and 2003, the BBC said.
Additionally, the couple were jointly charged with 14 counts of sexual activity with a child between 2005 and 2008.
The judge told Pythian:
“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”
(Image: zarapythian/ Instagram)
