On May 11, a British court found Zara Phythian and her husband Victor Marke guilty of 14 charges of child sexual activity. You may recognize Phythian, who is best known for her role as Brunette Zealot in Marvel’s 2016 Doctor Strange. She was also a well-known stunt double as well.
According to the BBC, Phythian and her husband are accused of grooming and sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl as a couple. Marke was also charged with four additional sexual offenses for sexually abusing a 15-year-old without his wife present.
‘Doctor Strange’ Actress and Husband Found Guilty of Child Sex Charges
Marke first began assaulting the 15-year-old from 2002 to 2003. He and Phythian began assaulting the 13-year-old from 2005 to 2008.
According to Hepburn, the victims, who are now adults, reported the abuse to the police years after it happened. Nonetheless, the BBC reported Nicole Hepburn from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), saying, “This abuse may have occurred some years ago, but that makes it no less serious and nor is it a barrier to justice.”
“I would encourage anyone who has been abused in the past to come forward with the knowledge that the CPS will take your case seriously,” Hepburn added.
According to one of the victims, the couple reportedly gave her rum before the assault began. They would then play a game of “dare,” the Nottingham Post reports.
It was during this game of dare that Phythian began performing oral sex on Marke and told the child to join in. The game ended with Marke having intercourse with both of them.
ALSO on MAMAS UNCUT: Mama June Gives Family Update After Rumors Reveal Honey Boo Boo Is Dating an Older Man
The victim admitted she didn’t know how to react but said it happened time and time again, about 20 times, over the years.
As the BBC reports, Phythian and Marke have been married since 2015. Marke was reportedly the actress’s martial arts instructor and that is how they met.
The BBC further reported that Marke claimed he did have sexual encounters with one of the two girls but said he believed she was 18 at the time. However, the prosecution argued that Marke and Phythian had “numerous threesomes” with the girl starting when she was just 13 years old.
Phythian denied ever having sexual encounters with the girl, something Marke also suggested during his testimony. Hepburn called the couple “true liars” after the courts found them guilty of every count against them, the BBC reports.
Phythian and Marke are scheduled to be sentenced on May 16. Before being separated, Phythian and Marke hugged each other as Marke reportedly cried. It’s unclear if the actress showed any sort of emotion.
Judge Mark Watson warned the couple, saying, “Both of you know the sentence I pass on 16 May is likely to be measured by a considerable period of custody.”
Mamas Uncut is THE online place for moms. We cover the latest about motherhood, parenting, and entertainment as well – all with a mom-focused twist. So if you're looking for parenting advice from real parents, we have plenty of it, all for moms from moms, and also experts. Because, at the end of the day, our mission is focused solely on empowering moms and moms-to-be with the knowledge and answers they’re looking for in one safe space.