PhD Student Zhenhao Zou Convicted of Rape; Police Fear 50+ More Victims
Zhenhao Zou, a 28-year-old Chinese PhD student, has been found guilty of drugging and raping 10 women, with police fearing he may have targeted more than 50 additional victims. Zou filmed nine of his attacks, kept a trophy box of women’s belongings, and is now considered one of the UK’s most prolific sex offenders.
Verdict and Charges
The Inner London Crown Court convicted Zou of:
11 counts of rape (three victims in London, seven in China)
Three counts of voyeurism
10 counts of possessing extreme pornography
One count of false imprisonment
Three counts of possessing drugs with intent to commit a sexual offense
He was cleared of certain drug and pornography-related charges but now faces a lengthy prison sentence.
One of the UK’s Worst Sexual Offenders
The Metropolitan Police described Zou as one of the most prolific offenders in recent times. Authorities discovered videos of unidentified women and believe he assaulted at least 50 more victims—25 in the UK and 25 in China.
How Zou Targeted Victims
Zou moved to the UK in 2017 to study mechanical engineering at Queen’s University Belfast before relocating to London in 2019. He used WeChat and dating apps to lure fellow Chinese students, inviting them for drinks before drugging and assaulting them at his apartments in London or an unknown location in China.
Prosecutors described him as “smart and charming” but a calculated sexual predator.
Secret Filming and Hidden Cameras
Zou secretly recorded his attacks, using both mobile devices and hidden cameras. Investigators found SD cards containing videos of unconscious victims being assaulted in London and China.
