Dr Strange actress Zara Phythian and boyfriend jailed for child sex offences

An actress who appeared in Marvel blockbuster Doctor Strange has been jailed for eight years for a string of sex attacks on a teenage girl.

Zara Phythian and her husband Victor Marke were found guilty last week of 14 counts of sexual activity with a child after jointly grooming and abusing the girl between 2005 and 2008. Marke, who was also found guilty of indecently assaulting a second complainant, was handed a 14-year sentence at Nottingham Crown Court.

Phythian, who featured in the 2016 Doctor Strange film, appeared calm in the dock on Monday (16 May) as she was told the abuse was aggravated by its prolonged nature. Passing sentence, Judge Mark Watson told the couple he believed the start of the abuse was pre-planned.

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The judge told Marke: “I regard you as the driving force behind the abuse. You were clearly aware of the first incident but pretended to be asleep. This could only have been a ruse agreed in advance.”

Addressing 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. I cannot ignore that it started at a time when you were still young.”

But the judge added: “Having said that, none of this excuses what you did – these were choices you made. You were by then successful in your own right. You chose to play your part.”

As she was led away to the cells, Phythian waved at the public gallery, where a woman shouted: “I love you, Zara.” The 37-year-old, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, and Marke, 59, were told they will have to serve