British court judge Mark Watson recently found actor Zara Phythian and her husband, Victor Marke, guilty on multiple counts of child sex abuse.
Phythian -- tried under the name Zara Marke -- was convicted of 14 counts, while her husband was convicted on 18 counts. There were multiple counts of sexual activity with an underage victim. One of the couple's victims underwent abuse beginning from the age of 13. "Phythian's charges were 14 counts of sexual activity with a child, in relation to a girl she and Marke abused between 2005 and 2008, when the girl was aged 13, 14 and 15."
Solicitor Nicole Hepburn of the Crown Prosecution Service remarked that the actor and her husband had been exposed as liars and said, "This abuse may have occurred some years ago, but that makes it no less serious and nor is it a barrier to justice." Hepburn added, "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."
The victims are both adults now and reported the crimes years after they had been committed. One of the victims previously alleged the couple gave her alcohol, after which Phythian dared her to have oral sex with Marke. He then had sex with both the victim and Phythian. The victim then stated Marke threatened to physically hurt her by smashing her kneecaps, if she revealed the abuse to anyone. Marke is said to have told her no one would believe her if she told them. In addition, there were claims that Phythian and Marke filmed the abuse.
The victim previously stated, "I knew it was wrong but I just didn't know how to get out of the situation or say anything... I remember trying to copy Zara's reaction at the time because I looked up to her and tried to be like her in every way."
The pair had been out on bail during the course of the trial, but Judge Watson remanded them into custody following the verdicts. They are to be sentenced on May 16. The judge told them, "Both of you know the sentence I pass on 16 May is likely to be measured by a considerable period of custody."
Phythian played a minor role in 2016's Doctor Strange as "Brunette Zealot." Beyond that, the actor has a limited filmography comprised of a number of minor films.
Source: BBC
