Zara Phythian

Phythian's husband Victor Marke was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment for jointly abusing the same victim, as well as the indecent assault of a second girl.

They will be sentenced on Monday but the judge has told them to expect a ‘considerable period of custody’ —marking the end of their careers, in martial arts and film, if not the end of their toxic relationship. Marke was convicted of a further four charges of indecently assaulting another girl, aged 15 at the time, between 2002 and 2003. ‘I don’t wish to be rude but Vic is not the prettiest picture and Zara is a very pretty girl. ‘Then, out of nowhere, she dumped him and just said he was mean to her. Later she said she had been accused of rape and sexual abuse. She liked the fighting element and wanted to compete.’ Mr Phythian says: ‘It was a difficult one for her mum and me because Zara was exceptionally bright. Marke was 22 years older than Zara, his wife had recently had their baby — and he was supposed to be Zara’s teacher, not her lover He used his power and influence as a master of martial arts to dominate and control young girls.’ ‘Victor groomed Zara as well as his other victims,’ a former training partner of the couple said last week. Zara and her husband (pictured) were arrested in March 2017 on suspicion of sex crimes involving the girl. On Wednesday, Zara, 37, and her husband were found guilty of grooming and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old schoolgirl.

Phythian, 37, who was jailed along with her husband Victor Marke, now 59, abused an underage girl at least eight times between 2002 and 2003.

You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Click here to find out more about our partners. - Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address

Zara Phythian and husband Victor Marke were both found guilty of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl.

"Although no punishment handed down by a court can undo the lifelong damage caused to the them, I do hope they take some degree of comfort from the knowledge that justice has now been done." The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Phythian was convicted on Wednesday of 14 charges of sexual activity with a child between 2005 and 2008, starting when the girl was 13 years old. Phythian and Mark have reportedly denied all allegations from both plaintiffs before being found guilty. "I remember trying to copy Zara's reaction at the time because I looked up to her and tried to be like her," the woman said, according to BBC News. She said Marke then had sex with both Phythian and the victim. According to the BBC, a police interview with the first victim was played last month at Nottingham Crown Court, in which she said, "I knew it was wrong, but I just didn't know how to get out of the situation or say anything."