A Marvel movie actress who sexually abused a 13-year-old girl has reportedly become a prison cleaner behind bars.
Zara Phythian, who starred in the 2016 franchise film Doctor Strange alongside Benedict Cumberbatch, has signed up for an industrial cleaning course in hopes of finding her a job when her sentence is over.
The movie star was sentenced to eight years in prison earlier this year. Phythian was found guilty of sexually abusing a teenage girl with her husband, Victor Marke.
The abuse went on for three years when the teenager was between 13 and 15 years old.
Zara Phythian (right) starred in the 2016 Marvel movie Dr Strange alongside movie star Benedict Cumberbatch (left)
Phythian is serving his sentence at Foston Hall Prison in Derbyshire. Former prison inmates include Maxine Carr, dubbed “Britain’s most hated woman” after she covered up for murderer Ian Huntley, and her mother Karen Matthews, who faked the kidnapping of her own daughter.
Phythian’s father Andy, who visits his daughter twice a month, told The Mirror: “She manages surprisingly well. They’ve put her through a course in industrial cleaning.
‘If you did it overseas, it would cost you £5,000 to get certified. A select few are selected to help reflect their good behavior.
‘Hopefully it will be useful when she gets out.’
Phythian’s husband, Marke, 59, was jailed for 14 years for molesting the same victim and indecent assault on a second girl.
In total, the Nottinghamshire couple were found guilty of 14 counts of sexual activity.
The court heard that martial arts and taekwondo ‘master’ Marke gave the teenager rum before forcing her to perform a sexual act with her partner.
He and Phythian abused the girl “once or twice a month” at their home over a three-year period beginning in 2005.
The actress has been jailed for eight years. The court found her guilty of harassing a teenage girl with rum before forcing her to perform a sexual act with her partner.
During Marke’s sentencing, the judge said Phythian’s ‘deviance’ was shaped by the influence Marke had on her from a young age.
A court heard the abuse began after Phythian gave the victim alcohol and asked if she wanted to “play dare” with her husband.
Marke, 59, had sex with the schoolgirl about 20 times on different occasions.
The actress’s father, however, insists that his daughter was groomed by her husband.
He added: ‘Zara accepts her situation and is just trying to do the right thing while serving her sentence.
‘She has a job at the gym where she trains and teaches yoga and self-defense classes.
New inmates who don’t know her think she works with the prison, but she has to explain to them that she is a prisoner herself.
“I think it’s the polite way she talks and comes across as polite.”
Phythian said her daughter is looking to get a sports science degree in prison at the end of the month.
The actress’s father, Andy, said he now took an industrial cleaning course while serving his sentence at Foston Hall Prison in Derbyshire.
He added that the actress was in “a lot of pain” when she first entered the prison, causing her to be isolated “for her own safety”, but said this has stopped now.
The victim, whose name cannot be identified, earlier this year described the couple as characters from “Jekyll and Hyde” and said Marke threatened her while ordering her to film the abuse.
After her sentence was handed down in May, members of Phythian’s family shouted ‘we love you Zara’ to which she replied: ‘I am innocent, I love you all’.
Marke could be heard sobbing uncontrollably as he arrived in the courtroom to hear his fate.
Pronouncing sentencing, Judge Mark Watson said at the time: “It has been said that they both come across as impressive individuals, each with a long list of achievements.
You, Victor Marke, were someone your students admired. You, Zara Marke, were also someone admired by those you taught.
Phythian’s father, Andy (pictured), who visits his daughter twice a month, said his daughter took an industrial cleaning course at the prison.
Most people have held you in high regard. That’s why you were able to set up the victims in this case and get away with it for so long.
You set her up and there was a significant disparity in their ages.
They both exposed her to sexual acts. She showed him how you liked her and she described it as a “very advanced, dirty, naughty side.”
‘She said ‘God, I’ve done everything and I’m not 16 yet’.
‘At that time she was already vulnerable, in the sense that she was young and had not gone through puberty.
Much of the sexual behavior was recorded on video.
‘Victor Marke, I describe you as the driving force behind the abuse. The sexual act that took place would end when she had satisfied his needs.
‘You were also the eldest and held a higher status in the world of martial arts.
“Both you and Zara Marke were immersed in that regime, everyone was very aware of the pecking order: you were at the top.
‘Each of you shares the responsibility. Their offense involved multiple types of sexual acts and, more importantly, they offended together.
‘I have to deal with you two for a course of delinquency that lasted three years. I take into account your good nature, but this may have a limiting value.
‘There will be no chance of either of you seeing the other, which will cause some distress. ‘
Addressing Phythian, the judge said: ‘The sentence in your case will be shorter.
‘There was a victim and you were younger at the time and I don’t see you as the driving force behind it.
You were in love with Victor Marke. I have no doubt that your deviation was shaped by him.
You had been the center of his attentions. Their relationship began at a time when they were young.
‘None of this excuses what you did, you may have done it to satisfy Victor Marke’s urges, but you still chose to do your part. ‘
Jurors heard how the teen was regularly staying with the couple at their home when the abuse began.
She told police how she was given rum before Zara, also a martial arts expert, asked if she wanted to play ‘challenges’.
The actress then began to perform a sexual act on her husband before asking the victim to do the same.
The girl claimed that he would then “take turns” having sex with both of them.
She told officers the abuse continued until she was 18 and included Victor asking her to record him and Zara.
The girl said he also filmed the abuse, telling the court it was an attempt to recreate the porn the couple watched.
Giving testimony during the trial, the victim told the jury: ‘I knew it was wrong, but I didn’t know how to get out of the situation or say anything.
‘I just did what they asked me to do. They made it look like I was a naughty kid and they were helping me.
“I felt there was no way out. They told me not to say anything.
The court was told that Victor used his position of trust to “satisfy his sexual urges” alongside his wife.
She was described as a “major personality” who “enjoyed unprecedented personal and professional success” after her role in the Marvel film Doctor Strange.
Ahmed Hossain QC, a prosecutor, said during the trial: ‘Both defendants inspired admiration and respect within the world of martial arts.
“Victor Marke groomed these two separate whistleblowers as children and used his position of trust and authority to make them feel special so he could satisfy their sexual urges.”
The court was told that Zara, who goes by the stage name Phythian, called the allegations ‘bulls**t’ when questioned by police.
She said: ‘They [the claims] They’re fake. She’s lied to me the whole time I’ve known her.
‘I am not a pedophile, nor a rapist. Neither does Vic.
The actress revealed in police interviews that her husband claimed he had ‘consensual’ sex with the girl only after she turned 18.
Phythian said she felt ‘confused’ and ‘wishes she knew’.
He also admitted to possessing a ‘collection’ of sex toys during questioning after the victim claimed the aids were used on her.
Nicole Hepburn of CPS said after the case: “This was a terrible case of exploitation of a position of trust and respect for sexual gratification.
“Victor Marke ruthlessly took advantage of the age and vulnerability of these girls, as well as their status as an admired coach.
“He made them feel special and he listened to them and then he abused them. Zara Marke similarly exploited her position to perpetrate child abuse.
‘Both defendants have denied their actions, instead blaming the victims and accusing them of lying.
‘Thanks to their evidence, given clearly and credibly in court, the Markes themselves have been exposed as the real liars.
“It takes courage to stand up to abusers and bear witness in this way and I would like to express my respect and gratitude to the survivors for all they have done to ensure that the Markes are held accountable for their criminal actions.”
‘This abuse may have happened a few years ago, but that does not make it less serious and it is not a barrier to justice.
“I would encourage anyone who has been abused in the past to come forward knowing that CPS will take their case seriously.”
Detective Inspector Parminder Dhillon, from Nottinghamshire Police, said after the case: “Today’s events mark the end of a very long and challenging legal process for the victims and their families.”
“While these sentences cannot undo the considerable harm done to the young women at the center of this case, I hope they offer at least some measure of comfort.
The Markes worked together to exploit and abuse a young girl for their own sexual gratification.
‘In doing so, they committed some of the most serious crimes that can be committed against children and have rightfully received very hefty prison sentences.
“I hope this case serves as a timely reminder to all victims of sexual abuse.
“If you come forward and tell us what happened to you, we will investigate and get to the truth.”
