Actress who starred alongside Benedict Cumberbatch 'sexually abused girl, 13, & made her perform sex act on husband'

A HOLLYWOOD actress sexually abused a 13-year-old girl and made her perform a sex act on her husband, a court heard today.

Zara Marke, who starred with Benedict Cumberbatch in Doctor Strange, allegedly plied the teen with rum in a three-year reign of terror.

Along with husband Victor, the 36-year-old abused the girl "once or twice a month" from 2005 and threatened her to keep her quiet, it is said.

Martial arts and Taekwondo "master" Victor, 59, allegedly had sex with the complainant about 20 times on different occasions.

The couple both deny 14 counts of sexual activity, while Victor faces four further charges of indecent assault against a second teen.

Nottingham Crown Court heard how the teen would regularly stay with the pair at their home when the abuse started.

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She told police how she was given rum before being asked by Zara – also a martial arts expert – if she wanted to play "dares".

Jurors heard the actress then began performing a sex act on her husband before asking the alleged victim to do the same.

The girl claimed he then "took it in turns" to have sex with them both.

She told officers the abuse continued until she turned 18 and included Victor asking her to record him and Zara, whose last name at the time was Phythian, together.

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The complainant said he also filmed the abuse and believed it was an attempt to re-create the pornography the couple watched.

The alleged victim added: "I knew it was wrong, but I did not know how to get out of the situation, or say anything.

“I just did whatever they asked me to do. They made it seem like I was some naughty kid and they were helping me out.

“I just felt like there was no way out. They told me not to say anything.”

The court was told Victor used his position of trust to "satisfy his sexual urges" alongside his wife.

She was described as a "major personality" who was "enjoying unprecedented personal and professional success" after her role in Marvel film Doctor Strange.

Zara would have been 20 or 21 around the time the alleged abuse started while Victor was 42 or 43.

Ahmed Hossain QC, prosecuting, said: "Both of those defendants commanded admiration and respect within the martial arts world and the prosecution case is that Victor Marke groomed these two separate complainants when they were children and that he used his position of trust and authority to make them feel special so that he could satisfy his sexual urges.

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"And, it is the prosecution's case, that Zara Marke was part of that process and Zara Marke acted, as is alleged, with Victor Marke."

The trial continues.

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